Netanyahu Risks Gaza Occupation Gambit

Israeli Leader Pushes Controversial Plan Amidst Military Doubts

A sweeping Israeli military plan targeting Gaza City is unfolding, a high-stakes gamble by Prime Minister **Benjamin Netanyahu** that risks significant political fallout and military strain, even as military leadership reportedly opposes it.

Strategic Shift or Political Ploy?

Sources indicate **Netanyahu**’s revised objective involves the complete occupation of Gaza City, a move that could extend into 2026. This decision reportedly clashes with advice from Israel’s chief of staff, raising questions about its viability and potential motives. Many in Israel previously questioned the burden of reoccupying Gaza, but shifting ambitions have paved the way for the current strategy.

The operation, involving significant military divisions and potentially calling up further reserves, faces considerable political sensitivity within Israel. A growing segment of Israeli society is also signaling opposition.

Netanyahu’s Calculated Gamble

Analysts suggest **Netanyahu**’s strategy might aim to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and surrendering. Alternatively, it could be a bid to annex parts of Gaza, fulfilling a long-held ambition for some on the Israeli right. The prime minister may be betting on multiple outcomes, seeking to appease his base and secure electoral victory.

“Israel’s occupation of the city may take up to six months, meaning this operation will likely last into 2026.”

—Chris Doyle

This maneuver follows a pattern of escalating Israeli military actions, with previous operations in Rafah and Deir Al-Balah failing to secure the release of hostages or achieve Hamas’s surrender. **Netanyahu** argues that collapsing Gaza City, Hamas’s “last true fortress,” will lead to its downfall.

The success of this plan hinges on maintaining an aura of invincibility, a challenging task as **Netanyahu** faces growing domestic and international criticism. Even if the US becomes disaffected, it does not guarantee aid for Palestinians or hostages.

The situation highlights the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where approximately 800,000 residents of Gaza City may be forcibly displaced. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of early August 2024, an estimated 1.7 million people in Gaza were already displaced internally due to the conflict (OCHA Situation Report, August 15, 2024).

Ultimately, this complex operation represents a substantial risk for **Netanyahu**. Regardless of its outcome, it appears to offer no winning move for Palestinians, with regional peace and security remaining distant prospects.