Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take military control of Gaza City, the most populous and politically central area of the Gaza Strip. This decision marks an escalation in the nearly two-year-long conflict with Hamas, aiming to disarm the group, dismantle its military infrastructure, impose Israeli security control, and recover the territory. The move expands Israel's military operations in Gaza despite growing criticism both domestically and internationally over the devastating impact of the conflict, which has resulted in over 60,000 Palestinian deaths, widespread destruction, and severe humanitarian conditions including starvation. The approval was confirmed by Netanyahu's office and came after multiple failed mediation attempts to resolve the conflict.