NextFin news, On August 7, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel intends to take full military control of Gaza City but will not annex the Gaza Strip. This decision was approved by Israel's security cabinet as part of a major escalation in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
Netanyahu stated that while Israeli forces will occupy Gaza City and prepare for a phased military takeover of the enclave, the governance of Gaza will be handed over to a temporary administrative body. The nature of this governing body has not been specified, but it is intended to be neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. Israeli security forces will maintain control over a security perimeter around Gaza to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens.
The plan includes several objectives: disarming Hamas, returning all Israeli hostages believed to be held in Gaza, demilitarizing the area, and establishing a new civil administration. Israeli authorities estimate that around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with about 20 possibly still alive.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel does not intend to annex Gaza permanently. The move to occupy Gaza City marks a tactical shift, as Israeli military operations have previously been intensive but did not involve full occupation of the city.
The United Nations has warned that the implementation of this plan could have catastrophic consequences for the civilian population in Gaza, where over 38,000 Palestinians have reportedly died and more than 1.7 million have been displaced since the conflict began in October 2023.
International reactions have included widespread criticism and concern over the humanitarian impact of the occupation. Netanyahu's announcement also aligns with opposition from the United States, particularly the Trump administration, which has expressed firm opposition to Gaza annexation.
Israel's government has not publicly detailed a long-term strategy for Gaza's governance post-Hamas removal, but coordination with international partners, including the United States and Gulf countries, is reportedly ongoing to shape Gaza's future administration.
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