Future of 1m Palestinians now hangs in the balance

Global outrage over Israel's plans to take control of Gaza City

- Lorenzo Tondo Jerusalem Julian Borger

The future of a million Palestinians hangs in the balance after Israel's security cabinet approved a new ground offensive aimed at taking complete control of Gaza's largest city, in a decision that has triggered global outrage.

The plan put forward by the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for Gaza City would entail a further escalation in the 22-month war and mean more mass displacements of an exhausted and starving population.

It has yet to be endorsed by the full cabinet, expected to convene in the next few days, but there have been calls from around the world for the government to change its mind.

Germany, Israel's second biggest arms supplier, yesterday suspended the delivery of weaponry that could be used in Gaza. The plan is also reported to have opened a deep rift between Netanyahu and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) leadership, but has not been opposed by the Trump administration, Israel's most important backer.

Hamas said in a statement that Netanyahu's plans meant he had abandoned the surviving hostages seized by the group in its surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, which triggered the war. Hamas accused him of "sacrificing them to serve his personal interests and extremist ideological agenda".

Before the security cabinet meeting, which began on Thursday and ran through the night, Netanyahu had said Israel planned to take control of the entire territory and eventually hand it to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas.

The plans announced yesterday morning stop short of that goal, perhaps reflecting the opposition of the IDF chief of general staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir.