Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet has approved a controversial plan to "take control" of Gaza City, escalating the nearly two-year war in Gaza and drawing sharp criticism worldwide. The plan, aimed at defeating Hamas, involves Israeli forces seizing the city while distributing humanitarian aid outside combat zones, according to Netanyahu's office.

Netanyahu, posting on X, insisted, "We are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas." He outlined five principles, including Gaza's demilitarization and the establishment of a new civilian administration, excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. The move comes amid growing pressure to secure a truce, alleviate famine risks for Gaza's over two million residents, and free 49 hostages still held by Hamas, 27 of whom Israel believes are dead.

Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack killed 1,219 people and sparked the war, condemned the plan as a "new war crime," warning it could endanger hostages. Israel's offensive has already killed over 61,000 Palestinians, per Gaza's health ministry. International outrage followed, with the UN, China, Turkey, Britain, and Arab nations labeling the plan a "dangerous escalation." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of "catastrophic consequences" for Palestinians, with the UN Security Council set to meet Sunday.

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Germany, a key Israeli ally, halted military exports, prompting Netanyahu to slam the decision as a "reward for Hamas." Inside Israel, reactions were mixed. Defence Minister Israel Katz said preparations for the plan were underway, while the Hostage and Missing Families Forum called it a "reckless" abandonment of captives. Some Israelis, like 26-year-old Chaim Klein, supported the move, hoping it would "eliminate Hamas."

Gaza residents braced for more displacement. "They keep moving us, but no one sees us as human," said Maysa al-Shanti, a 52-year-old mother. The UN reports 99 malnutrition deaths in Gaza this year, likely an underestimate, while Gaza's civil defence noted 16 deaths from Israeli strikes on Friday. Aid delivery remains chaotic, with injuries from airdrops and stampedes.

Israel, controlling 75% of Gaza, has eased some aid restrictions, but the UN says it's insufficient. As global concern mounts over Palestinian suffering, the plan risks further destabilizing the region.

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