Israeli security cabinet expected to approve Gaza takeover plan

[Twiglets1]

Sky News report that Israel is expected to approve Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for a takeover of Gaza when the security cabinet meets later today.

According to the Times of Israel, the full cabinet is due to convene at 6pm local time, 4pm in the UK.

Israeli media are reporting that the plan could potentially span over five months, and it is likely to be aimed at destroying Hamas and pressuring it to free remaining hostages.

While some ministers have been critical of the plan, reports suggest Netanyahu is likely to secure a majority of support.

https://news.sky.com/story/gaza-latest-hostages-famine-aid-hamas-idf-war-palestine-state-live-13398805

https://www.thejournal.ie/israel-west-bank-illegal-settlements-6791299-Aug2025/

Smotrich building massive settlements to cut off two parts of the West Bank from each other to prevent a Palestinian state
It is quite clear Netanyahus words about not taking over Gaza are ringing quite hollow .
"Smotrich hailed the project as “Zionism at its best” and said the construction would send a clear message to countries considering recognition of a Palestinian state.

“Anyone in the world who tries today to recognise a Palestinian state will receive an answer from us on the ground"

Disgraceful.
The sooner this bunch of nutjobs are far removed from power the better.

Agree . No way forward with extremists in charge.

Smotrich has so much power in that government and his confidence when talking about what should become of Gaza is terrifying.

“Palestinians in Gaza would be "totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places". (6th May)

At this point in time, he opined that in 6 months time “Gaza's population would be confined to a narrow piece of land. The rest of the territory would be "totally destroyed" and "empty". Here we are just 3 months later and we’re not far off this reality.

Meanwhile, he proudly announces his building plans and says it “buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there's nothing to recognize and no one to recognize it.”

Info/quotes are part of a longer piece that’s worth a read: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3r441zyw27o

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Just for the record, I am totally against Smotrich's building plans in the West Bank (and the Settlers generally).

Are Macron, Starmer and other world leaders partly responsible for this new development though, for promising to recognise an independent Palestinian state at the September General Assembly meeting of the UN?

Israel announced that it would build an enormous settlement in the West Bank to effectively " bury the idea of a Palestinian state"

And Israeli ministers had warned it could unilaterally annex the West Bank in retaliation for Western recognition of Palestine.

It seems more damage has been done by Western leaders getting involved but interested in the thoughts of others.

We can discuss whether it was a wise political move by Starmer and Macron, but no, this is not their fault. 147 countries had already recognised Palestine (including some influential European states) so its not even like it's a huge sea-change. They didn't "make" the Israeli Government do this - Israel is a powerful force with huge support from key international players and are certainly not powerless. Israel has choices, and it is making those now in order to, in their mind, destroy any hope of a two state solution. And they need to be held accountable for their planned actions. They seem to be able to continue to flout international law and act with impunity.

It’s hard not to connect the two, isn’t it. Although I think he’s been trying to push this through for a long time so it’s not totally out of the blue.

My fear is that more violence and upset in the WB will enable more Israeli intervention and it won’t be long before it’s taken over and flattened/cleared too. Same messaging, different area, same outcome for innocent people. But perhaps this is a very cynical view.

Re the international outcry, I find including statehood as a bargaining chip really really bizarre. I think they deserve recognition full stop but appreciate the fact that Hamas in power makes it infinitely more complicated; I wouldn’t condone anything that makes them feel like they are being recognised/supported. I guess Israel are making it clear that there cannot be a two state solution - there’s no point dangling statehood as they’re never going to let it happen. Overall, I doubt this only happened because of Western intervention,
it possibly just sped up timings.

Edit: duplicate post

I think that is a good assessment.

I also find the dangling statehood as a bizarre “chip” to play. It’s being used as a form of pressure on Israel but it is clear that this type of pressure won’t work.

Oh sorry, I did not mean to suggest in any way that it was wholly "their fault" - no way does Starmer or Macron have that much influence in international affairs.

It was a symbolic thing wasn't it - seeing as they knew they couldn't make Israel do anything?

The things they said though - the symbolic things - I do think it made Netanyahu and Smotrich angry. Just what we needed, more fuel on the fire.

I think it was a big miscalculation and having read the post by @PinkBobby I tend to agree with them on this. It probably just sped up the timing but it was a bizarre thing for Macron and Starmer (and others) to do given that Hamas have taken it as a sign of international support for them.

I also want to make the point (again) that the longer this war goes on, the worse things get for the Gazan people.

Almost every day we get news that things are about to get worse for them. I think world leaders should be focusing more on putting political pressure on Hamas and their allies to agree a ceasefire deal than making symbolic gestures that have caused more harm than good.

Are Macron, Starmer and other world leaders partly responsible for this new development though, for promising to recognise an independent Palestinian state at the September General Assembly meeting of the UN?

Nail on head - I think this is exactly what's happened.

I agree with this but I feel like negotiating or pressuring Hamas is unrealistic. I know this is when the double standards argument comes in (why should Israel get all the pressure and not Hamas) but Hamas are ultimately a group of terrorists and are just going to do what they want/need to survive. Plus, even if we were to believe that they could be negotiated with, they have no reason to agree to a ceasefire after Israel broke it last time. Also, the Israelis are massively more powerful in this conflict and are doing infinitely more harm on the ground so it’s right that the pressure is on them (this isn’t me suggesting that it is solely their fault).

I’m not saying the Western leaders are doing the right thing by dangling statehood but I’m not sure they should ease off pressure on Israel. To be honest, I don’t think either side can be ‘saved’ at this point - Hamas have probably lost enough to now just fight til the bitter end regardless of the (human) cost and Israel’s right wing (who have a disproportionate amount of power) are close to getting what they actually want so have no reason to negotiate.

Edit: duplicate post again. Sorry all!

I don't know - there must be some world leaders (not necessarily Western leaders) that Hamas respects and would feel pressure from.

It would be right for pressure to be put on both sides not just Israel because both sides have to come to the negotiating table feeling some pressure to agree terms.

I don't know - there must be some world leaders (not necessarily Western leaders) that Hamas respects and would feel pressure from.

Can't see them having much respect for Saudi as they're not Iran's friends. So, Qatar, basically.

https://www.nytimes.com/video/opinion/100000010328913/when-is-it-genocide.html

Just finished watching this and thought it was very interesting.

For context, Sands KC is a top international law specialist and has written about the holocaust in relation to international law and his own family’s experience. He discusses the idea of genocide v other war crimes and his thoughts on the current situation in Israel/Gaza.

Well worth a watch if you can spare the time.

Also seen this today and it was a fascinating watch. Less so because it offers much new in terms of what Sands says on the legalities (though the first part is arguably a fascinating lesson in the history of modern international law if this is something you have never delved into before).

More so because of what Klein does. Because of how, as someone whom I would describe as a liberal zionist, he struggles. And bargains.

There is this moment where Klein basically asks Sands to staleman the case for Israel. Sands responds "tell your leaders to zip it". And Klein starts giving the case himself - as a journalist and the interviewer, not the legal expert.

Danish PM Mette Frederiksen seems to take a more sensible approach:

Asked if Denmark plans to join its Scandinavian neighbours and other European countries in recognizing a Palestinian state, the Danish premier said that her country will not do so as long as Hamas still controls major parts of territories claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.

Denmark does not wish to “reward” Hamas, she said, after the terror group sparked the war in Gaza its with its invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

She also notes that Netanyahu has become "a problem in himself" despite the fact that she is personally committed to standing with Israel. She believes that the Israeli government is going “too far,” and condemns settler violence and the new settlement plan.

Frederiksen added that she wanted to consider “political pressure, sanctions, whether against settlers, ministers, or even Israel as a whole,” referring to trade or research sanctions.

www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-has-become-a-problem-says-danish-pm-wants-eu-to-weigh-sanctions/

Mette Frederiksen for PM.

Yes! I agree with what she says and so much more sensible than Kier Starmer jumping on the bandwagon with Hamas responding to his statement with “victory and liberation are closer than we expected”.

Much better.

A much more thought through approach, it seems.

The article has made me think though - how much area does Hamas truly control anymore? I know good old MN probably doesn’t have such intel but I’ve seen reports that Hamas are still as strong as they were a year ago and other reports say they’ve lost 80% of Gaza now.

I agree with sanctions against Israel. I don’t think recognition of Palestine is effective in the short term. At the moment there is no reason for Israel to stop this. Governments need make Israel feel the impact of their actions on their economy. They need to make the occupation of Gaza a huge burden on Israel. It’s the only way.

Around 75% of Gaza is under military control by Israel. That’s from memory. I don’t think the statement makes full sense to be honest. We recognise many countries without recognition of their government. But for me recognition of Palestine at this time, is just words. It isn’t going to change anything on the ground for the people who are suffering .