Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration to “take full control” of Gaza, international concerns have been raised over a possible long-term occupation and further humanitarian disaster. Netanyahu made this declaration as part of a fiery address to the Knesset on Sunday evening, which received a variety of serious responses from important Western allies, like the United Kingdom, France, and Canada, all of which are contemplating “serious diplomatic action” against Israel.
“This is not a time for weakness,” Netanyahu said to a largely full Knesset. “We will be in Gaza until we’ve eliminated Hamas and restored security. Israel will take full control – politically, militarily, and with territory”.
His comments come as Israeli forces ramp up their ground operations across central and southern Gaza, with airstrikes reported once again in Khan Younis, Rafah, and Deir al-Balah. The Palestinian health officials say more than 36,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed since the conflict erupted last October, while tens of thousands of new wounded and displaced have entered the picture.
But Netanyahu’s latest comments, which are read by many as stating an intention to reoccupy Gaza indefinitely, have sent shockwaves through the diplomatic communities in Europe and North America.
The foreign ministries of the UK, France, and Canada issued a rare joint warning Monday morning in a statement, deeming Netanyahu’s comments “deeply troubling” and “incompatible with international law.”
British Foreign Secretary Imran Harris told the BBC that the UK was reviewing its arms export licensing and considering sanctions against senior Israeli officials. French President Élodie Lambert said that France would seek an emergency session of the UN Security Council if Netanyahu’s government heads toward a policy of formal annexation. Canadian Prime Minister Jordan Patel repeated the sentiment of “consequences” if Israel does not change direction.
Netanyahu is facing increasing opposition – not just from the Opposition parties but also from within his coalition government. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in off-the-record comments made to Israeli reporters, allegedly cautioned against “long-term entanglement in Gaza”, and officials sitting in the Israeli Defense Forces, or IDF, have expressed privately their skepticism that serious governance of the territory is practical.
Tens of thousands of Israelis met this past weekend in Tel Aviv, calling for early elections and an end to the war. Many were carrying signs that read “Security without sovereignty” and “No to endless occupation.”
“There is no clear plan. Just vengeance and chaos,” said Anat Shafir, a former military officer who is now a peace activist. “This will not bring back our hostages, nor will it make us safer.”
Palestinian leaders have called Netanyahu’s plan “a death sentence” to any future peace negotiation. Mustafa Barghouti, a leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, said to Al Jazeera that this would be “a second Nakba,” meaning a mass dislocation of Palestinians .
Palestinian authorities, meanwhile, have labeled Netanyahu’s proposal “a death sentence” for any future peace accord. Mustafa Barghouti, a senior figure in the Palestinian National Initiative, told Al Jazeera the plan would be “a second Nakba,” alluding to the mass uprooting of Palestinians in 1948. In Gaza, things are dire.
UN organizations report that about 80% of the territory’s inhabitants have been displaced, and humanitarian convoys are routinely blocked and attacked. “We are running out of food, medicine, and hope,” a UN representative told reporters in Rafah.
Israel’s security cabinet is to meet this week regarding “operational continuity” in Gaza. Meanwhile, European Union diplomats are reportedly working to put a framework for sanctions in place to reduce the likelihood of escalation. The United States, Israel’s strongest ally, has remained cautious thus far. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged “restraint” but has not officially condemned Israel’s actions thus far.
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