Core Viewpoint - The Israeli government has approved a plan to "take control of Gaza City," which may represent the first phase of a broader strategy to fully occupy the Gaza Strip and defeat Hamas [1][3]. Summary by Sections Government Actions - The Israeli Security Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Netanyahu's plan to "defeat Hamas," focusing on taking control of northern Gaza, specifically Gaza City [1]. - The plan includes five principles: disarming Hamas, releasing all remaining hostages, demilitarizing Gaza, establishing Israeli security control over Gaza, and creating a non-Hamas, non-Palestinian Authority alternative civilian government [1]. Military Strategy - The language of "taking control of Gaza City" differs from Netanyahu's previous statements about a "full occupation" of the Gaza Strip, indicating a potential compromise [3]. - The plan aims to dismantle the remaining Hamas forces and pressure them to release 50 remaining Israeli hostages, but it faced strong opposition from the Israeli Defense Forces [3]. International and Domestic Reactions - The plan has raised concerns internationally, with analysts warning it could escalate conflict, destabilize the region, and lead to a humanitarian crisis [4]. - Critics within Israel, including former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, argue that the decision could lead to further disasters and exacerbate political turmoil [4]. - The Jerusalem Post editorial suggests that while the plan may alleviate short-term political pressure on Netanyahu, it poses long-term risks across military, diplomatic, economic, and moral dimensions [4].

Group 1 - The Israeli military actions in Gaza have resulted in at least 83 Palestinian deaths, with 58 of them waiting for humanitarian aid [1][4] - Since the resumption of military operations on March 18, 2023, the death toll in Gaza has reached at least 9,519, with 38,630 injured [4] - The ongoing conflict has led to over 60,000 deaths in Gaza since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023 [4] Group 2 - Egyptian President Sisi condemned the Israeli actions as a war aimed at "eliminating the Palestinian cause," calling for international intervention and aid to Gaza [2] - Egypt has prepared over 5,000 aid trucks to enter Gaza and has provided more than 70% of humanitarian assistance to the region over the past 21 months [2] - Sisi emphasized Egypt's commitment to mediating a ceasefire and implementing a two-state solution to end the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict [2] Group 3 - Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is seeking cabinet support for a plan to "fully occupy" Gaza, despite internal opposition [5] - The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) oppose the complete takeover of Gaza, citing the lengthy process required to dismantle Hamas infrastructure [5] - Recent videos released by Hamas show two Israeli hostages in poor health, reinforcing Netanyahu's resolve to eliminate Hamas [7]