Philissa Cramer

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly planning to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, including by launching operations in areas where Israeli hostages are held.

Sources within Netanyahu’s government spoke to Israeli media outlets on Sunday and Monday about the plan, which would mark a stark departure in Israel’s tactics in Gaza.

The announcement fulfills the wishes of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition partners, who want to see Jewish resettlement in Gaza 20 years after the country unilaterally disengaged from the territory. Israeli forces removed 9,000 Jewish residents exactly 20 years ago this week.

But it has been widely panned by others in the country and beyond, who see a full occupation as likely to put hostages and soldiers in harm’s way without any pay

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