Israeli Security Cabinet to vote on Gaza takeover plan, fighting estimated to last 5 months

The Israeli Security Cabinet is set to convene on Thursday evening to vote on a proposal for the full military occupation of Gaza, aimed at defeating the Hamas terrorist organization – despite opposition from IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.

On Wednesday night, Hebrew media published several details of the plan, which calls for a large-scale military operation that would see the entry of five IDF divisions into the Gaza Strip to take over Gaza City and the central camps. Israel estimates this operation could take five months. 

The plan would also see the relocation of up to one million Palestinian evacuees from the central areas of the Strip into the south, and to focus the entry of humanitarian aid within that area. It is unclear from the reports whether this would involve the plan for a humanitarian city in Rafah, proposed by Defense Minister Israel Katz, which Zamir has also opposed. 

The vote on the proposed plan will take place in the Security Cabinet meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday. While several ministers, such as Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, allegedly do not favor occupying the Gaza Strip, political analysts in Israel believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will likely secure a majority in the vote. 

IDF Chief Zamir is expected to present his concerns to the Cabinet, along with several alternatives, before the vote. In recent days, Hebrew media reports have indicated that Zamir may be considering resigning from his position if the Cabinet votes to occupy Gaza, as he believes that such an operation would endanger the hostages and lead to a significant burden on the IDF. 

Opposition leader and Yesh Atid party chairman, Yair Lapid, met with Netanyahu for their regular security briefing on Wednesday, which lasted approximately 40 minutes. He told Hebrew media after the meeting that he was opposed to occupying Gaza. 

“I don't usually share information from discussions with the prime minister,” Lapid began, “but I told him that occupying Gaza is a very bad idea. You don't take such a step unless the majority of the people are behind you. The people of Israel are not interested in this war. We will pay too heavy a price for it, both in human lives and in billions of Israeli taxpayer money.” 

Lapid said Israel should bring in Egypt to help govern the Gaza Strip. 

“Instead of an unnecessary occupation and annexation of Gaza, we need to bring Egypt into the Strip, so that there will be another government there to run Gaza in our place, and then turn to the important thing: eliminating Hamas. But that will take time. Occupying Gaza is a bad idea operationally, morally, and economically.” 

Following the reports about the plan on Wednesday evening, hundreds of people gathered near the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv to protest it, warning, “If the decision in the cabinet tomorrow is to sacrifice them [the hostages] – we will go crazy.” 

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged Zamir not to resign, but rather to “stand up for your opinion and the will of the people.” 

However, a former IDF commanding officer on Wednesday expressed his support for a plan to capture and occupy Gaza. 

IDF Brig.-Gen. (res.) Erez Wiener – former aide to the IDF chief and head of the operational planning team in the Southern Command – told 103FM radio, “It is possible to conquer Gaza, and it is necessary to conquer Gaza.” 

Wiener shared three principles to achieve victory in Gaza: full control of humanitarian aid; separation of the civilian population from Hamas; and the conquest of Gaza City – the last Hamas stronghold. 

Wiener said there is no chance for a hostage deal at present. 

“Everyone understands there is no deal. It's not true that they will return them in exchange for a ceasefire,” he stated during the interview.

He also hit back at the criticism of Netanyahu in recent negotiations, saying he had gone “above and beyond” to achieve a deal. 

“We must not mislead the poor families – there is no such deal,” Wiener said. “Netanyahu has done so much, above and beyond, to reach a deal.” 

He said that before becoming chief of staff, Zamir had seen and approved a plan similar to the one he is suggesting. 

“Before he was appointed chief of staff, he was familiar with the plan that was presented to Herzi Halevi and said it wasn’t aggressive enough,” Wiener stated.

He went on to say that Zamir designed a similar plan that would take 100 days or less to complete. Wiener said that capturing Gaza City is imperative. 

“We will conquer Gaza City and relocate the remaining population from there,” he stated.