The Israeli cabinet’s decision to degenerate his war against Gaza, without taking into account the humanitarian crises that has already been caused, seems to have angry as much in Israel as in the international community, but not necessarily for the same reasons.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to go back on his idea of grasping all Gaza after the decline of a soldier widely considered exhausted.
As part of the new “Plan”, Israel will seize Gaza City and, according to an anonymous Israeli official speaking to the Associated Press, the “central camps” of Gaza as well as Al-Mawasi in the South.
Defending his new idea on Sunday, Netanyahu told journalists that Israel “has no choice” only to “finish work and finish the defeat of Hamas”.
Israel spent 22 months killing 61,722 people and destroying almost all of Gaza, ostensibly in this end.
Many in Israel, including families of the remaining captives held in Gaza, oppose climbing. So why does Netanyahu do it, and how did it land in Israel? Here’s what we know.
Why does Netanyahu want to do this?
It is not clear.
Many members of the international community, from the European Union to the United Nations, have condemned the idea. Even many formerly faithful allies of Israel, such as Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, condemned it.
In Israel, many suspects of Netanyahu’s decision aim to consolidate his support among the extreme right elements of which his coalition must remain in power and to cause a war which he thinks that his political survival depends.
Many on the far right support Netanyahu’s plan?
Not as much as he hoped.
While the right-wing ministers like the Minister of Ultra-Nationalist Finance Bezalel Smotrich and the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir still support the coalition of Netanyahu, their loyalty seems conditional.
Both had been among a cohort of hard-right hard politicians who had opposed the suggestion that humanitarian aid is authorized to enter the enclave in May, after global indignation for famine, before aligning with government policy and Smotrich even diverted additional funds for help earlier this month.
The two ministers and their important constituencies want a complete Israeli seizure of all Gaza, the “razor” of Gaza City, and what they describe as the “voluntary” migration of the Gaza population, once the territory has been made uninhabitable.
Smotrich published a video criticizing Netanyahu’s plans on Saturday to limit the invasion of Gaza City, saying that he had “lost confidence” to the leaders of Netanyahu. He later specified that he would remain in the government.
Does the security institution fully support Netanyahu’s plan?
No.
The Israeli media report that the chief of staff Eyal Zamir and several Israeli officers opposed the plan.
According to disclosed reports, Zamir told Netanyahu that he created a “trap” that would erode the army more and endanger the life of the remaining captives.
Earlier in the same week, more than 600 former Israeli security officials wrote to the American president Donald Trump to implore him to use his influence on Netanyahu to end the war.
“Everything could be achieved by force has been achieved. The hostages can no longer expect,” said commanders of the Israel Security Group (CIS) in an article on X, where he shared the letter.
Does the Israeli public fully support Netanyahu’s plan?
No.
Tens of thousands of people, including many families of captives, went down to the street to protest the decision to degenerate the war.
In mid-July, a survey carried out by the Israeli Institute of Democracy noted that 74% of Israelis supported a negotiated end to war which would see the return of the 50 remaining captives in Gaza.
Among them were 60% who had previously voted for the Prime Minister’s coalition.
How did the company replied?
Strong.
Groups representing the families of the captives and those of the Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza called on a general strike on August 17.
Much in the Vitale technology industry of Israel, as well as universities and local authorities, responded positively.
“The objective”, one of the groups organizing the action explained, is “to save the lives of hostages and soldiers, and to prevent new families from joining debt”.
How did political opposition react to Netanyahu’s plan?
They oppose almost universally.
The head of the opposition Yair Lapid – who supported the government through a large part of his war against Gaza – said the last climbing of a “disaster that will lead to many other disasters”.
Another opposition figure, Benny Gantz, who served in the government throughout his fiercest attacks against Gaza during the first stadiums of the war, also condemned climbing. In an article on X, Gantz described the escalation of “political failure which waste the enormous achievements of the army (Israeli army)”.
מה כן לעשות כדי להחזיר את החטופים ולנצח?
אני רואה שוב את המחדל המדיני שמבזבז את ההי ere שגים האדים של צה”ל.
שוב מחכים.
שוב מנהלים משא ומתן בשלבים.
בלי שום יצירתיות.אפשר אחרת:
קודם כל להודיע – בתמורה להשבת החטופים נהיה מוכנים להפסקת אשועה – חט החטוף האחרון.
כל עוד זה לא מתקבל:…– בני גנץ – Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) August 8, 2025
Are the Israelis more aware of what their country does to the Palestinians?
Not really.
A survey of the Israeli Institute of Democracy in July has shown that, despite general coverage, a majority of Israelis have described themselves as “not all troubled” by “famine and suffering relationships among the Palestinian population in Gaza”.
It is estimated that 227 people died from famine following the Israeli headquarters on Gaza which started in March. A total of 103 of them were children.
