Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office determined on Monday (4) that Israel’s defense forces (FDI) occupy the entire Gaza Strip, including zones where the Hamas terrorist group has held hostage since the 2023 attacks. The information was released by Israeli press vehicles, such as the Canal 12 and the The Jerusalem Post.
According to these sources, the order includes moving forward with military operations in areas that were previously avoided by risk to the life of hostages. According to Canal 12a high employee of Netanyahu’s office said on Monday that “the decision is made, Israel will occupy the entire Gaza Strip.” He even sent a message to the armed forces chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, where he said that if he does not agree with the premiere’s decision “then he will have to resign.”
The decision was made after Hamas released a new video showing a visibly debilitated Israeli hostage, being forced to dig his own grave, and amid the lack of advancement in negotiations for liberation of kidnappers who are still under terrorist control in Palestinian territory. According to Canal 12Netanyahu’s office source said that “Hamas will not release more hostages without full surrender.”
“If we do not act now, hostages will starve and Gaza will remain under Hamas’s control,” the source said.
According to the Israeli press, the plan to occupy all Gaza provides that Israel’s forces will also work in refugee camps and other regions in the center of the Palestinian enclave, where military presence was restricted to avoid putting hostages at risk. According to the sources mentioned, the FDIs already control about 75% of the gaza range.
