August 9, 2025

Israel's Security Cabinet on Thursday approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to "take control" of Gaza City and the surrounding areas, drawing swift and widespread condemnation from the international community and fueling concerns over an already dire humanitarian crisis.

In his first public comments since the security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu worte on X on Friday stressing that Israel is not going to occupy Gaza but aims to "free Gaza from Hamas."

"We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas. Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization. This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future," he wrote.

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