Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to take control of Gaza in a bid for what they say is aimed at the dismantlement of Hamas and the establishment of security protocols in the occupied territory on Friday.
The cabinet has approved the adoption of five principles for ending the war in Gaza, which include 'Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip' and the establishment of a new civilian administration to govern the enclave, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Friday. The move comes despite severe ongoing international criticism and also objections from the Israeli defence forces, which believe that the solution is neither in favour of Israel nor long-lasting.
Netanyahu on Thursday said that the civilian administration is 'neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority', raising serious concerns about what could replace the existing structure in the occupied territory. “The majority of the Israeli security cabinet ministers believe that the current plan submitted to the cabinet would neither achieve the defeat of Hamas nor guarantee the return of the captives,” officials said.
Also Read: China calls for Arab unity as Israel plans Gaza siege
Ahead of the security cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel did not want to govern Gaza. “We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and give Gazans a good life – that’s not possible with Hamas,” he said. The cabinet also approved Netanyahu’s earlier plan to reoccupy Gaza City despite growing international criticism.
“The Security Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister’s proposal for the defeat of Hamas,” the PMO said in a statement. “The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will prepare for the takeover of Gaza City while ensuring the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” it added.
Also Read: Israel has no intensions to re-occupy Gaza says Netanyahu
Follow us
