Israel’s push into Gaza lays ground for full-scale occupation

Israel controls more of Gaza than at any point during the war, part of a plan that officials increasingly describe as leading to a full military occupation.Israel believes this new strategy would improve its chances of definitively uprooting Iranian-backed Hamas. But taking control of the Palestinian enclave for the first time in two decades would be a high-stakes gamble — it would risk increasing the death toll in Gaza, siphoning more reserve soldiers away from an economy stifled by war, and further isolating Israel.It also raises the odds of protracting a war that has already lasted 18 months and shows no sign of ending soon.Plans were drawn up last month by the new military chief Eyal Zamir and approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz, said senior officials familiar with the road map who spoke on condition of anonymity.Full implementation hasn’t been approved by the Cabinet, but plans are advancing step by step with Israel ramping up pressure on Hamas to return hostages while limiting the likelihood of harming them in the process. According to accounts by four Israeli officials as well as former officials close to the government’s thinking, the direction appears increasingly clear.MenuThe Japan Times The Japan Times SubscribeDigitalPrintSearchSearchTrump tariffsShigeru IshibaOsaka ExpoLatest NewsDeep DiveToday’s print editionHome DeliveryJAPANWORLDASIA PACIFICBUSINESSSPORTSOPINIONEnvironmentLIFECULTURECOMMUNITYMy AccountMy BookmarksLogoutSubscribe for more accessWORLD / PoliticsIsrael’s push into Gaza lays ground for full-scale occupationDisplaced Palestinians flee the Shejaiya district, east of Gaza City, on April 3.Displaced Palestinians flee the Shejaiya district, east of Gaza City, on April 3. | bloombergBy Ethan Bronnerbloomberg SHARE/SAVEApr 11, 2025Listen to this article6 minIsrael controls more of Gaza than at any point during the war, part of a plan that officials increasingly describe as leading to a full military occupation.Israel believes this new strategy would improve its chances of definitively uprooting Iranian-backed Hamas. But taking control of the Palestinian enclave for the first time in two decades would be a high-stakes gamble — it would risk increasing the death toll in Gaza, siphoning more reserve soldiers away from an economy stifled by war, and further isolating Israel.It also raises the odds of protracting a war that has already lasted 18 months and shows no sign of ending soon.Plans were drawn up last month by the new military chief Eyal Zamir and approved by Defense Minister Israel Katz, said senior officials familiar with the road map who spoke on condition of anonymity.Full implementation hasn’t been approved by the Cabinet, but plans are advancing step by step with Israel ramping up pressure on Hamas to return hostages while limiting the likelihood of harming them in the process. According to accounts by four Israeli officials as well as former officials close to the government’s thinking, the direction appears increasingly clear.”The only way to eradicate Hamas is to conquer Gaza,” said Amir Avivi, a retired brigadier general in close touch with military leaders and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Asked about the army’s plan, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said it’s operating within international law on goals set by the government.The return of Netanyahu’s long-time ally Donald Trump to the White House has added to the calculus.”The former [Israeli] chief of staff and defense minister opposed this, as did the Biden administration,” Avivi said. “The current ones believe it’s the right thing to do, and we have the backing of the Trump administration now.”On Monday at a White House press conference with Netanyahu, Trump said he couldn’t understand why Israel “gave up” Gaza in 2005 as part of a peace plan with the Palestinians.