Tel Aviv, Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that Israel's Security Cabinet has approved his plan to take over Gaza City amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, according to Associate Press.
Charting out the plan, Netanyahu earlier said that Israel would retake the control of the entire territory before handing it over to some friendly Arab forces opposing Hamas.
However, Israel’s top general warned against the move saying that it would endanger remaining 20 Israeli hostages in Hamas camp.
Many families of the hostages also came out against the retake plan, fearing that the move could ‘doom their loved ones’ with some protesting outside the Security Cabinet meeting held in Jerusalem.
Hamas raided Israel on October 7, 2023 killing around 1,200 alongside abducting 252, triggering the worst crisis that the region has seen in recent history.
In the midst of war that plunged the region into near famine, Hamas released most of the hostages during ceasefires but 50 still remain in Gaza; however, Israel believes that only 20 of them could be alive.
Now many in Israel fear that Netanyahu's retake plan for Gaza City could endanger the remaining hostages with the situation further escalating.
Israel's 22-month offensive against Hamas has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, it is reported citing Gaza's Health Ministry.
Israel carried out several deadly raids on Gaza City which led to thousands of people fleeing the area following evacuation orders in the beginning of the war.
Many reportedly returned to the city during ceasefire earlier this year just as the area has not yet been turned into Israeli buffer zone.
It is reported that nearly three quarters of the territory are already under Israel’s control.
Pointing to no respite in crisis, among 42 people who were killed on Thursday at least 13 fell victims to the attack while seeking aid in an Israeli military zone in southern Gaza.