Amid rising outrage over starvation in Gaza, Netanyahu discusses annexation & blockade

Even as Israel’s condemnation is rising by the day over the starvation in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held discussions about the annexation of the Palestinian enclave and blockading it yet again, according to Israeli media reports.

Such discussions go in sharp contrast to the public statement by Netanyahu’s office that admitted that the “situation in Gaza is difficult” and said the government was working to ensure the flow of large quantities of aid into Gaza.

Netanyahu held a Cabinet meeting on Monday on Gaza in which the military presented a new plan for the “siege” of Gaza, according to the Kan broadcaster.

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Separately, other Hebrew-language outlets reported that Netanyahu and his Cabinet discussed the complete occupation or annexation of Gaza.

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Unlike occupation, which is temporary control of an area, annexation means the permanent absorption of a territory by another country and asserting sovereignty over it, such as the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Despite decades of Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories of West Bank and Gaza (until 2005), Israel has not annexed these territories. Annexation would amount to the most extreme step that Israel did not take even during decades of Gaza’s occupation.

Netanyahu discusses annexation & blockade of Gaza

Under the new plan presented by the military, Israel would again cut off all humanitarian aid to Gaza, according to the Kan broadcaster.

Other outlets reported that, if Hamas would continue to reject Israel’s terms to end the war, Israel could completely occupy or annex entire Gaza.

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However, these reports said that Israel would give negotiations a chance before considering these actions.

The Kan broadcaster reported that, under the plan presented by the military, Israel would dramatically “expand” its ground operations in Gaza, including to areas where it has not yet operated, to “tighten” pressure on Hamas. So far, Israel has expanded the control to around 75 per cent of Gaza.

ALSO READ: 1 in 5 children in Gaza City is malnourished, says UN

Separately, Maariv reported that Israel would start annexing parts of Gaza if Hamas would reject efforts for deal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

In another report, Haaretz newspaper reported that Israel would first annex areas in the “buffer zone” along the Israel-Gaza border and then annex areas in northern Gaza near the Israeli cities of Sderot and Ashkelon and gradually continue the annexation until the annexation of the most or all of the strip.

The newspaper further reported that the annexation of Gaza was part of Netanyahu’s attempt to keep extremist ministers Bezalel Smotrich and his party in his ruling coalition. Netanyahu’s Likud party does not have a majority of its own in the party and relies on support from far-right parties of the likes of Financial Minister Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.