After more than 10 hours of deliberation, the Israeli Diplomatic-Security Cabinet concluded its session debating the conquest of the Gaza Strip. The meeting ended with approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to occupy and take control of all areas of the Gaza Strip, despite strong opposition from IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.
The Security Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister's proposal for defeating Hamas.
The IDF will prepare for taking control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 8, 2025
The Prime Minister's Office issued a statement announcing that the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet approved the prime minister's proposal to defeat Hamas. The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside combat zones.
According to the statement distributed by the prime minister, the cabinet adopted by majority vote five principles for ending the war: dismantling Hamas from its weapons, returning all hostages – both living and deceased, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip, and establishing an alternative civilian government that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.
The statement noted that an absolute majority of cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan presented to the cabinet would not achieve Hamas' defeat nor the return of the hostages.
The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet convened Thursday evening in Jerusalem to adopt the prime minister's proposal to fully occupy the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu decided on the full occupation framework after concluding that there is no longer any possibility for a hostage deal with Hamas. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir recommended to the cabinet a different course of action. In his opinion, it would be preferable to avoid occupation and instead impose a siege on areas where Hamas remains active in the Strip.
The chief of staff presented his plan first for siege, and then the takeover plan if he receives instructions. At the beginning of his remarks, he said that ground entry into areas where there will be hostages could endanger their lives. Hamas still views a living hostage as an asset, but in case of excessive proximity, the danger increases. According to him, "we have no way to guarantee their lives if we enter areas where they are being held. We must defeat and topple Hamas, and this is what we will do."
Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that "at any stage we can stop the operation, it is not irreversible." Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded, "I don't agree – in any case, we need to go all the way."
A decisive majority of Security Cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan that had been submitted to the Security Cabinet would neither achieve the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 8, 2025
The chief of staff later noted that "the spirit of the combatants is determined, but there will be difficulty maintaining the required deployment for complete takeover over time. It is completely clear that among reserve divisions there is attrition, in light of the large number of service days, businesses, work, family – this has real and pressing implications."
