Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on 7 Aug. that Israel “intends to take control of all of Gaza,” confirming reports that his government is preparing to widen the nearly two-year-old war against Hamas. The remarks were aired ahead of a security-cabinet meeting in Jerusalem at which ministers are expected to debate a proposal for a ground offensive into the remaining parts of the enclave. Netanyahu added that Israel does not seek to annex or permanently govern Gaza, saying the territory would be handed to a non-Hamas civilian administration once Hamas is defeated and a security perimeter is established. Israeli Channel 12 earlier quoted a senior aide as saying “the die is cast,” predicting an operation that could last up to five months to capture the roughly 25 % of the strip still outside Israeli control. The prospect of full occupation has drawn unusual pushback from the military. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned in a closed meeting that the move could endanger about 50 hostages still held in Gaza and sap exhausted troops, calling it “walking into a trap,” according to Israeli media. Defense Minister Israel Katz countered that the army must implement whatever decision the civilian leadership adopts. International criticism of Israel’s campaign has intensified as Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023 and aid agencies warn of looming famine among the enclave’s two million residents. Families of the hostages have also urged restraint, while U.S. President Donald Trump said any decision to occupy all of Gaza was “up to Israel.”