Israel's Security Cabinet Agrees To Take Over Gaza, UK-Australia Opposite

JAKARTA - Israel's political-security cabinet approved plans to take over Gaza. Israel's decision is against Britain and Australia.

Israel's move expands military operations despite increasingly intensive criticism at home and abroad of the war that has lasted nearly two years and destroyed it.

Right-wing allies in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition have pushed for a total takeover of Gaza as part of its promise to eradicate Hamas militants, although the military has warned this could put the lives of the remaining hostages at risk.

The decision comes after several attempts to mediate a failed ceasefire and amid growing international condemnation of photos of Palestinian children starving, which show a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in the shattered enclave.

"IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian assistance to civilians outside the combat zone," Netanyahu's office said, referring to Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Although Netanyahu said Israel intends to control the entire Gaza Strip militarily, plans approved on Friday are specifically focused on Gaza's vast city, the largest city center in the region, located in the northern part.

Reporter Axios, Barak Ravid, quoted an Israeli official as saying to X the plan involved evacuating Palestinian civilians from Gaza City and launching a ground attack there.

When asked if Israel's troops had taken control of about 75% of the coastal territory, Netanyahu told Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer, "we intend to do it."

However, Netanyahu said Israel wanted to hand over the territory to Arab forces to be ruled. He did not specify which government or Arab state might be involved.

"We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to rule it. We don't want to be there as a government agency," he said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Israel's decision to seize Gaza City was wrong and urged him to reconsider.

"This action will not end this conflict or help secure the release of the hostages. This action will only bring more bloodshed," he said.

Australia urges Israel not to take this path.

Israeli officials described earlier this week's meeting with the military chief as a tense meeting, saying military chief Eyal Zamir rejected the expansion of Israeli military operations, which had displaced nearly the entire 2.2 million population of Gaza.