Tel Aviv, August 6, 2025 — Israel’s political-security cabinet has officially approved a military plan to take control of Gaza City, marking a major escalation in its nearly two-year-long conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The decision comes as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue expanding their ground operations in the enclave, drawing increasing criticism from both domestic audiences and the international community over the war’s human toll and duration.

“The cabinet has greenlit a comprehensive operational plan aimed at restoring full security control over Gaza City,” an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

While no official timeline for the ground advance has been made public, IDF commanders have reportedly begun staging further troops near key access routes into northern Gaza, preparing for what could be one of the most extensive military pushes since the war began in 2023.

Mounting Pressure on Netanyahu Government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced increasing pressure at home as the conflict stretches into its second year with no decisive end in sight. Protests have erupted in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in recent weeks, demanding clearer objectives, greater transparency, and a roadmap toward peace or conflict resolution.

Internationally, humanitarian agencies and several UN member states have condemned Israel’s military operations, citing the high civilian death toll and severe displacement of residents in Gaza.

Gaza City: A Strategic and Symbolic Target

Gaza City, the largest urban center in the Strip, is both a strategic stronghold for Hamas and a dense civilian hub. Israeli officials argue that full control of the city is essential to dismantling Hamas’s infrastructure. However, rights groups warn that intensified combat in such a densely populated area could lead to devastating humanitarian consequences.

The Israeli military has maintained that it will take all necessary precautions to minimize civilian harm, but past operations have already drawn scrutiny over airstrikes in residential areas, schools, and hospitals.