US President Donald Trump will not stand in the way of Israel's plans to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, according to Axios, citing both US and Israeli officials.
Trump is not expected to intervene if Israel launches a new offensive aimed at taking full control of the Palestinian enclave. When asked earlier this week about Israel’s intentions, Trump said: "I really can't say. It is going to be pretty much up to Israel."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition is expected to vote on Thursday on expanding the war, now in its 22nd month. Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
The planned offensive would see Israeli forces occupy large parts of central Gaza, including Gaza City in the north, forcibly displacing around one million Palestinians, most of whom had been displaced several times before. Israeli media reports the operation could take four to five months.
Several Israeli officials have openly called for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, with proposals to expel Palestinians and build Israeli settlements inside the Strip.
Ceasefire talks, mediated by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, remain stalled. Hamas continues to demand a full Israeli withdrawal, while Netanyahu insists on dismantling the group's military and governing infrastructure, calling it non-negotiable.
According to Axios, Netanyahu and his aides believe only military pressure will force Hamas to accept a ceasefire that includes the release of remaining captives and favours Israeli terms. Israel estimates around 50 captives remain in Gaza, with only 20 believed to be alive. Many are believed to have been killed in Israeli strikes on the enclave.
One US official told Axios the Trump administration does not support Israeli annexation of Gaza - an option reportedly under discussion in Israel. The idea has sparked tension between Israel's political leadership and military.
Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned that a complete occupation could be a "trap" and would risk the lives of the remaining captives.
He has proposed alternatives, including encircling areas where Hamas fighters are believed to be hiding, according to Channel 12.
More than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023, most of them civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry. Nearly 200 have died from starvation as Israel continues to block aid.
While Trump has expressed concern over the hunger crisis, international outrage has mounted over images of emaciated children and long queues at failing aid points.
Arab and Western countries have carried out airdrops and limited aid deliveries, but humanitarian groups say they fall far short of what is needed.
On Thursday, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced plans to expand aid distribution points in Gaza from four to 16.
The US-Israel-backed aid scheme has come under fire after Israeli forces killed dozens of Palestinians waiting for food. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation(GHF), which oversees the distribution sites, has been accused by the UN and rights groups of creating "death traps".
US soldiers stationed at GHF sites have spoken out about attacks they witnessed against Palestinians trying to collect aid.