Israel Moves to Fully Occupy Gaza in Escalation of War

Israeli Ministers Approve Plan to Capture All of Gaza Amid Mounting Tensions.

A plan to take complete control of the Gaza Strip was approved by Israel's security cabinet on May 5, 2025, intensifying the already catastrophic war with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended the action as essential to Israel's long-term security, but it has come under heavy fire from both domestic and foreign critics.

According to reports, the approved plan intends to fully establish Israeli military control over Gaza and destroy Hamas's governing and military capabilities throughout the region. The elimination of militant cells, stopping the smuggling of weapons, and protecting humanitarian aid routes are among the main goals; Israel says these actions will deter future attacks.

One of the plan's main supporters, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, claimed that the only realistic way to achieve long-term security was to "total occupied" Gaza. He and other conservative Netanyahu coalition members contend that any less drastic action would preserve Hamas and continue to endanger Israeli citizens.

But the plan is being implemented in the midst of unheard-of human suffering. According to Palestinian health officials, the death toll in Gaza has risen to over 34,000 since Israel began its military offensive in response to the October 2023 Hamas-led attack that claimed over 1,200 lives and took over 250 hostages. Thousands of children have been among the civilian casualties, who make up the majority.

International organizations and aid groups have denounced the most recent action. The UN cautioned that a full occupation might cause Gaza's already destroyed infrastructure to completely collapse, depriving more than 2 million people of basic necessities like clean water, food, and medical attention. UN Secretary-General António Guterres referred to the plan as "deeply alarming and in violation of international humanitarian law," while the World Health Organization has characterized the situation as "catastrophic."

The plan's accompanying proposals, including the use of private contractors and facial recognition technology to oversee aid delivery, have drawn criticism from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which have described them as risky and unethical. Opponents contend that these techniques might make it possible for monitoring and control strategies that violate Palestinians' rights and dignity.

Political divisions within Israel have also been sparked by the decision. A full-scale occupation could jeopardize the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, according to reports citing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. According to reports, the military is concerned that if operations are stepped up, Hamas may respond by killing hostages or retaliating violently.

The action has been deemed reckless by the hostages' families, some of whom have demonstrated outside the Knesset and military installations. Lior Mizrahi, whose son has been detained by Hamas since 2023, stated, "We feel abandoned by our government." "They are conducting more operations that could result in their deaths rather than giving priority to the return of our loved ones."

In the meantime, the war has spread outside of Gaza. Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for launching a missile strike at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on the same day the plan was unveiled, which prompted retaliatory U.S. airstrikes in Sana'a. The Houthis have threatened to step up their attacks on targets in Israel and the West after joining forces with Hamas and Hezbollah in what they refer to as a "axis of resistance."

Global trade has also been disrupted by the crisis; the United States and the United Kingdom have conducted joint military operations to secure shipping lanes in the Red Sea as a result of repeated Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. Fears of a wider regional escalation involving Iran, Lebanon, and other parties have been heightened by this.

Israel seems dedicated to the path in spite of increasing pressure from foreign allies, including the United States. Although they have not explicitly opposed the plan, U.S. officials have voiced "deep concern" over the humanitarian consequences. Although there is little hope for a diplomatic breakthrough, President Trump is scheduled to travel to the region later this month to meet with Arab and Israeli leaders.

The death toll keeps rising as Israel gets ready for what could be one of the biggest escalations in its protracted war with Gaza. Nearly 80% of Gaza's population, or more than 1.8 million Palestinians, have already been forced to leave their homes. Reports show an increase in cases of disease, malnutrition, and a shortage of medical supplies, and aid convoys have had difficulty reaching northern Gaza.

The future of Gaza and the stability of the Middle East as a whole will probably be decided in the upcoming weeks. As one of the world's most unstable regions hovers on the brink of a more extensive and potentially uncontrollable conflict, the international community watches with apprehension.