Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to order a full military occupation of the Gaza Strip, despite strong objections from senior military officials and the families of remaining hostages.
Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other top generals are firmly opposed to a total takeover, warning that such a move would endanger the lives of captives still held by Hamas, according to Israeli media.
However, Netanyahu is believed to be yielding to pressure from far-right members of his coalition, who have long advocated for annexing Gaza and expelling its 2.2 million residents with Jewish settlements reestablished there.
"The die is cast – we are going for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip," a senior official familiar with the plans told Yedioth Ahronoth daily.
"There will be operations even in areas where hostages are being held. If the chief of staff doesn't agree, he should resign," the official said.
Israel currently controls approximately 75 percent of the Gaza Strip. The proposed plan involves advancing into the remaining areas, including Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Al-Mawasi, where the majority of the displaced population is now concentrated.
The Israeli cabinet is expected to discuss the next steps in a meeting later this week. Zamir is reportedly planning to present an alternative strategy focused on encircling Hamas-held areas and using military pressure to force the group into accepting a ceasefire.
Several ministers believe Zamir could resign if Netanyahu proceeds with a full occupation, according to Israel's public broadcaster Kan.
Last month, Netanyahu warned that Israel would move to annexe Gaza if Hamas rejected a US-backed temporary ceasefire proposal. Truce negotiations collapsed last week after Hamas insisted on guarantees for a permanent end to the war, terms Israel has so far refused.
An escalation of the war is likely to deepen divisions between Netanyahu’s far-right coalition and the Israeli security establishment, which is advocating for a ceasefire deal that would secure the release of captives and bring an end to the fighting.
On Sunday, more than 600 retired Israeli military and security officials signed a letter urging US President Donald Trump to pressure Netanyahu into negotiating an end to the war.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Mossad chief David Barnea are also reportedly opposed to a full occupation of Gaza.
Calls to end the war have intensified following the release of a video by Hamas showing two visibly emaciated hostages, which triggered public outrage and renewed appeals from the captives' families and opposition politicians.
Plans for a full occupation were first floated in March and have since been accompanied by repeated Israeli displacement orders, forcing Palestinians into isolated zones in Gaza’s north, centre, and south.
Members of Netanyahu’s government have repeatedly voiced support for expelling Gaza’s population. Last month, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced a plan to confine the entire population inside a massive camp in southern Gaza in an effort to encourage what he called "voluntary" migration.