Netanyahu holds talks with Israeli security officials over full Gaza occupation plans

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting with senior security officials to discuss war plans for Gaza on Tuesday as tensions between him and the military reportedly rise over the prospect of the IDF fully occupying the Strip, domestic media say.

On Monday night, Netanyahu said that a decision had been made for the complete occupation of Gaza, including in areas where Hamas-held hostages are believed to be located.

"We're committing to free Gaza from the tyranny of these terrorists," Netanyahu said in a video address posted on X.

"Many Gazans come to us and they say 'Help us be free. Help us be free of Hamas' and that's what we will do."

Tuesday's talks include Defence Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and IDF Operations Directorate head Major General Itzik Cohen, Israel’s Channel 12 reported.

But the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who are both staunch supporters of the complete takeover of Gaza, have been excluded from the meeting, the Israel Hayom daily said.

Netanyahu reportedly told ministers this week that he would seek cabinet backing for a plan to fully occupy Gaza, despite objections from within the IDF. 

In comments directed to his chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, in his message on Monday night, Netanyahu said, "If this does not suit you, then you should resign."

Zamir is believed to be against the takeover plan, which has sparked anger among those loyal to Netanyahu.

Ben Gvir said Zamir should commit to carrying out the orders of elected officials.

"The chief of staff must say clearly that he will fully carry out the orders of the political echelon, even if it's decided to go for full conquest and a clear result," Ben Gvir said in a post on X.

Gaza Security and Recovery Programme on the table?

No other details have so far been released about what the plans for a post-war Gaza would look like, but they could match those in a document seen by Euronews dated December 2023.

That proposal, in the form of a 32-page academic paper titled "Gaza Security and Recovery Programme, How Should The Day After Look Like," was authored by the Israel Defence and Security Forum, a group of over 35,000 Israeli security force reservists and the think tank Jerusalem Centre for Security and Foreign Affairs.

The study was presented to the Israeli government at an unknown date and represents one of the future options currently under consideration by Israel for the Gaza Strip, according to officials who spoke to Euronews.

The proposal depicts what "the day after" should look like in the scenario of the fall of Hamas.

It entails economic reconstruction, building infrastructure and, as the authors of the study say, "uprooting a murderous ideology," also labelled as a process of "de-Nazification."

"In order to prepare for the new state of affairs, even though the results of the military operation have not yet been achieved, it is necessary to prepare an orderly plan for the control of the Gaza Strip after the fall of Hamas," the document reads.

The plan explicitly excludes the sovereignty of Palestine, or more specifically the Palestinian Authority (PA), or the presence of the United Nations relief agency, UNRWA, as a source for humanitarian aid.

"No less serious is the foolhardy idea of establishing a Palestinian state in Gaza," the document reads.

However, it is not said in the document whether Israel intends to annex the Strip, although it is clearly stated that Israeli military (IDF) wants to have a greater say in the overall administration of Gaza's affairs.

The document's authenticity was confirmed by one senior government official who talked to Euronews on the condition of anonymity to avoid interfering with the government's work, as well as Ohad Tal and Simcha Rothman, two Knesset members of the far-right National Religious Party, which is part of the ruling coalition.

"The contents in this paper are part of the plans the government is looking at, they are on the table," the senior government official confirmed to Euronews.

The official specified that it is not a "finalised plan," however, it is "definitely part of the scenarios that are on the table."

"This plan is on the table and consistent with the direction the government is going," Tal confirmed.

Rothman told Euronews that, while the plan remains a "moving target," the framework outlined criteria, such as "elimination of Hamas, no PA (Palestinian Authority) presence in Gaza, no Palestinian state, no UNWRA, (are) consistent with my approach and to the best of my knowledge, with the approach of the government."

Rebuttal from Sa’ar

Netanyahu's comments on Monday contradict those of Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, who told Euronews last month that Israel doesn’t have "any intention" of controlling Gaza long term.

"We don't have any intention to do so," Sa’ar said. "With regard to the Gaza Strip, we have only security concerns."

"We (will) implement (US President Donald) Trump's plan, it is a good plan and makes a difference, and it means something very simple, that the residents of Gaza who want to leave can leave," Netanyahu said, referring to a proposal floated by Trump of resettling all of Gaza's population in other countries.

That plan was met with horror by regional countries and international humanitarian groups, who said the forced resettlement of the population would be a violation of international law.

Trump said he had plans to redevelop Gaza in the "Riviera of the Middle East" with upmarket resort hotels and shopping malls.