This EPA photo shows a destroyed United Nations clinic following an Israeli airstrike in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip. @Yonhap
Seoul-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing forward with a controversial plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, brushing aside mounting domestic protests and international condemnation. The move underscores his determination to achieve what he calls “total security control” over the territory—an objective that critics say risks deepening Israel’s isolation and prolonging conflict in the region.
The plan, details of which were presented to the Israeli security cabinet late last month, calls for a phased military campaign culminating in permanent Israeli security presence across Gaza. Netanyahu has framed the operation as a “necessary step” to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure and prevent future attacks. “Only a complete occupation can guarantee the safety of our citizens,” he told Knesset members in a closed-door briefing, according to officials familiar with the discussion.
Political Calculations at Home
Analysts say Netanyahu’s push is not solely a matter of national security. Facing political headwinds, including ongoing corruption trials and a divided coalition, the prime minister is under pressure from right-wing partners who have long advocated for reasserting Israeli control over Gaza. “Netanyahu sees this as a moment to consolidate his political base,” said Dr. Shira Efron, a senior researcher at the Israel Policy Forum. “It’s as much about survival in the political arena as it is about security strategy.”
Public opinion in Israel is sharply split. A poll conducted by Channel 12 last week showed 48% of Israelis supporting full occupation, while 45% opposed, citing concerns over economic costs, military casualties, and the risk of an indefinite quagmire. Protests erupted in Tel Aviv and Haifa over the weekend, with demonstrators accusing the government of pursuing “permanent war.”
International Alarm Bells
The Donald Trump administration has privately urged restraint, warning that a prolonged Israeli presence in Gaza could derail fragile normalization talks with Saudi Arabia and further inflame tensions across the Arab world. European leaders, meanwhile, have called for an immediate halt to the operation and a return to diplomatic negotiations.
“This plan is a strategic overreach,” said Michael Stephens, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in London. “It risks alienating Israel’s closest allies at a time when it needs diplomatic cover.”
The United Nations has issued its own warning, predicting that a full-scale occupation could trigger a humanitarian crisis for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents, many of whom already face food insecurity and limited access to medical care due to the blockade.
Strategic Endgame Unclear
Even within Israel’s security establishment, doubts remain over the feasibility of the plan. Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, now a member of the war cabinet, reportedly questioned whether the military has the resources and political will for a long-term occupation. Military analysts note that previous Israeli occupations of Gaza—from 1967 until the 2005 disengagement—were costly and often counterproductive in terms of counterinsurgency goals.
Still, Netanyahu appears determined to proceed. In recent public statements, he has vowed that Israel will not repeat the “mistake of 2005” when it withdrew from Gaza. “This time,” he said, “we will stay for as long as necessary.”