In the early hours of August 8, 2025, the Israeli war cabinet approved a plan presented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military occupation of Gaza City. After a meeting that lasted over ten hours, the majority of ministers gave the green light to a defined operation as decisive against Hamas. The plan provides that the Israeli defense forces (IDF) take control of the city and that about 800 thousand residents are evacuated by the symbolic date of 7 October 2025, the second anniversary of the Hamas attack.
Government objectives and key points of the Netanyahu plan
The office of the Prime Minister Netanyahu listed five principles that Israel requires to conclude the war: the complete disarmament of Hamas, the return of all the 50 -remained hostages (of which 20 is still believed to be alive), the total demilitarization of the Gaza strip, the safety control by Israel and the establishment of an administration that is not linked to Hamas nor to the Palestinian authority. The plan also aims to guarantee humanitarian assistance to the civilian population evacuated by the combat areas. At the moment, Israel controls about 75% of the strip territory.
Internal debate: army against total employment
The Chief of Staff of the Israeli defense forces, Eyal Zamir, expressed himself against the occupation of the city. During the long meeting of the cabinet, he said: “There is no humanitarian response for the million people that we will move to Gaza. It will be all extremely complex. I propose to remove the goal of the return of the hostages between the objectives of the war”. His position did not find support in the majority, which instead rejected the alternative plan presented by Zamir himself.
What will happen to Gaza City: evacuations and future management
The plan aims to evacuate all the residents of Gaza City towards refugee camps and other safe areas by 7 October 2025. Israel plans to distribute humanitarian aid to civilians who will be transferred outside the fighting area. Netanyahu reiterated that the goal is not to annex the strip but to guarantee its safety, remove Hamas and pass control to a civil government that is not hostile to Israel. In a statement, the premier said: “We intend to do it to guarantee our security, remove Hamas from there”.
International reactions and internal opposition
The new plan generated criticism in different countries. In particular, the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Australia invites Israel not to take this path, which will only make the humanitarian catastrophe worsen in Gaza”. Even several representatives of the Israeli opposition and the families of the hostages have said they are against the initiative, inviting political solutions and a different management of the current crisis. Thousands of Israeli citizens have expressed against employment and the evacuation plan.
Hamas and obstacles in negotiations
The last few months have been marked by attempts at indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a new ceased the fire and the release of the hostages, but these meetings have not led to any concrete agreement. Netanyahu said Hamas “doesn’t want an agreement.” After the announcement of Israel, Hamas said he will consider any administration connected to Israel as an occupant force and felt new tensions in the strip if the plan was to be implemented.
Displaces and management of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The approval of the plan provides that the displaced people are welcomed in central refugee camps and in other areas of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government has undertaken to provide help to people who will leave Gaza City, while the army evaluates the difficulties in moving such a high number of civilians. The Chief of Staff Zamir highlighted the complexity of the operation and the difficulty in guaranteeing an effective humanitarian response in a short time.
The article approved the plan for Gaza: 5 conditions, 1 million displaced persons, on 7 October comes from TheVermilion.com.