Why Netanyahu Remains Unyielding on Gaza City Takeover Plan Despite Lack of Support at Home and Abroad

With less than two months remaining until the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza marks its second year, Israel’s security cabinet has approved a proposal to expand military operations by taking control of Gaza City. Crafted and proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself, this plan appears less about military strategy and more about bolstering his political survival.

Despite strong objections from Israel’s military leadership, who warned that the plan could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and endanger the lives of the 50 remaining hostages, the proposal was approved. Polls indicate that most Israelis want the war to end and the hostages returned, yet Netanyahu’s decision diverges from both military and public sentiment. Analysts suggest his primary focus is maintaining his political position.

The plan comes at a time when international support for Israel is waning, and even domestic backing for continuing the war has diminished. Nevertheless, Netanyahu is pressing forward, driven by the political advantage it offers: buying time to secure his leadership. His far-right coalition partners, who favor prolonging the war, have repeatedly threatened to dissolve the government if a ceasefire is pursued, stalling peace talks. Netanyahu’s plan has failed to satisfy any major stakeholders. Internationally, allies such as Germany have suspended some military exports to Israel, signaling a potential rift with other European Union nations. Germany is Israel’s second most critical strategic ally after the United States. Domestically, the military, led by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, has strongly opposed the plan, warning it could trap Israeli forces in a quagmire, further endanger hostages, and deepen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Even Netanyahu’s hardline coalition partners, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, are dissatisfied, as they push for a full occupation of Gaza and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements, a goal far beyond the approved Gaza City takeover. In a Fox News interview on August 7, 2025, Netanyahu indicated Israel’s intent to control all of Gaza, though the approved plan is limited to Gaza City for now, with a two-month timeline that leaves room for diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire or hostage release. This phased approach has angered his coalition allies, who view it as insufficient. A source close to Smotrich called the plan “neither moral, ideological, nor Zionist,” arguing it merely repeats past strategies. The decision has isolated Israel internationally, with only the Trump administration offering consistent support, despite global outrage over Gaza’s worsening famine and humanitarian crisis. The United Nations and human rights groups have condemned the plan, with UN officials warning of “catastrophic consequences.” [](https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-disaster-opposition-countries-families-of-hostages-blast-gaza-city-takeover-plan/)[](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/8/how-the-world-is-reacting-to-israels-plan-to-take-over-gaza-city)

Netanyahu’s strategy appears to prioritize delaying an inevitable choice: agreeing to a genuine ceasefire to save hostages or launching a full-scale military operation to appease his coalition. By prolonging the war, he risks further suffering for both Gazans and Israeli hostages while securing his political survival—at least for now.