The Israeli security cabinet is set to convene today to review plans for seizing control of Gaza City , as the government faces mounting international pressure and unprecedented domestic opposition, even from Israels own security leaders.
The review is merely a formal update for the full security cabinet, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz already approved the IDFs plans earlier this month. But it comes as Israel faces a crucial few weeks at home and abroad.
Alongside the planned military escalation, Netanyahu and the cabinet C made up of senior officials including Katz and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir - are expected to discuss a diplomatic offensive in response to the anticipated wave of recognition for Palestinian statehood at next months UN General Assembly.
Netanyahu is considering measures ranging from full annexation of the West Bank, to partial annexation of selected settlements, to sanctioning the Palestinian Authority, according to two Israeli officials.
Annexing any part of the occupied West Bank by applying Israeli sovereignty would violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and spark an enormous diplomatic backlash. But its exactly what Netanyahus far-right coalition partners are demanding.
As it considers what steps to take in the West Bank, the Israeli government is pushing forward with the military assault on Gaza City despite growing pressue to pursue a diplomatic route would end the nearly two-year war.
The Israeli military carried out intense strikes in and around Gaza City in recent days as it prepares for to take over and occupy the city itself.
At least 47 people were killed in Gaza City alone on Saturday, according to Gaza hospital figures.
Hamas continues to have a presence in Gaza despite nearly two years of fighting and one of the latest Israel attacks killed Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida, Katz said.
Soon, as the campaign in Gaza intensifies, many more of his partners in crime - the murderers and rapists of Hamas - will join him there, he added.
The attacks also come amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the battered enclave, as the Palestinian health ministry said said on Sunday that another seven people died of malnutrition, bringing the total deaths from malnutrition to 339.
Ceasefire low on Netanyahus priorities
The most significant opposition to Israels takeover of Gaza City is the countrys security establishment, led by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who has warned Netanyahu and his cabinet that the Gaza City offensive will endanger the remaining hostages, risk soldiers lives, and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Two Israeli sources told CNN that Zamirs main concern and focus is the fate of the hostages, and he is expected to urge the cabinet to discuss negotiations on the latest ceasefire proposal before escalating the war. The sources said this position is endorsed by most of the heads of other security agencies, as well.
Earlier this month Hamas accepted the Qatari and Egyptian mediators most recent offer for a 60-day temporary ceasefire, during which 10 of the living hostages would be returned in exchange for a mass release of Palestinian prisoners. The offer is based on a similar proposal presented by the US special envoy Steve Witkoff in July, originally crafted in coordination with Israel.
However, Netanyahu, in coordination with the White House, has recently shifted strategy. After months of insisting on negotiating only phased and partial frameworks, he now says he is willing to discuss only a comprehensive deal that would release all of the hostages and end the war on Israeli terms and conditions.
As a result, Israel still hasnt responded to Hamass acceptance of the Qatari-Egyptian proposal on August 18.
According to two senior Israeli officials, Netanyahu does not intend to raise the negotiations in todays cabinet meeting as well, though the issue may come up during the presentation on Gaza City. The fact that the deal isnt formally on the agenda indicates how low the proposal is on Netanyahus priority list.
以色列安全内阁将于今日召开会议，审议夺取加沙城控制权的计划。当前政府正面临日益增加的国际压力以及前所未有的国内反对声浪，甚至连以色列本国的安全部门领导人也对此表示异议。
此次审议仅是对以色列全体安全内阁的例行程序性通报，因为以总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡和国防部长伊斯雷尔·卡茨已于本月早些时候批准了国防军的行动计划。但当前正值以色列面临国内外关键数周的特殊时期。
在计划军事升级的同时，由卡茨及极右翼国家安全部长伊塔马尔·本-格维尔等高级官员组成的内阁将与内塔尼亚胡一同商讨外交攻势，以应对下月联合国大会上可能出现的一波巴勒斯坦建国承认潮。
据两名以色列官员透露，内塔尼亚胡正考虑采取一系列措施，包括全面吞并约旦河西岸、部分吞并特定定居点，以及对巴勒斯坦民族权力机构实施制裁。
若通过行使以色列主权吞并被占领的约旦河西岸任何地区，将违反多项联合国安理会决议，并引发巨大的外交反弹。但这正是内塔尼亚胡的极右翼联盟伙伴所要求的。
尽管国际社会要求通过外交途径结束这场持续近两年的战争的呼声日益高涨，以色列政府在考虑约旦河西岸行动方案的同时，仍持续推进对加沙城的军事打击。
以色列军方近日对加沙城及其周边地区发动猛烈空袭，为占领该城做准备。
加沙医院数据显示，仅周六当天，加沙城就有至少47人丧生。
卡茨表示，尽管经过近两年的战斗，哈马斯仍在加沙地带保持存在，而以色列最近的一次袭击导致哈马斯发言人阿布·奥贝达丧生。
他补充说：“很快，随着加沙军事行动的升级，更多与他同流合污的罪犯——哈马斯组织的杀人犯和强奸犯——将会去那里与他汇合。”
在饱受摧残的飞地人道主义危机持续恶化之际，巴勒斯坦卫生部周日表示，又有7人死于营养不良，使营养不良致死总人数升至339人。
停火并非内塔尼亚胡的优先事项
以色列对加沙城的军事行动面临的最主要阻力来自该国安全机构。以军总参谋长埃亚勒·扎米尔警告总理内塔尼亚胡及其内阁，进攻加沙城将危及剩余人质安全、造成士兵伤亡，并加剧该地区的人道主义危机。
两名以色列消息人士向美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）透露，扎米尔最关切的核心问题是人质命运。预计他将敦促内阁在升级战争行动前，就最新停火方案展开谈判磋商。消息人士称，其他安全机构的多位负责人也支持这一立场。
本月早些时候，哈马斯接受了卡塔尔和埃及调解方提出的最新提议，同意实施为期60天的临时停火。在此期间，哈马斯将释放10名活着的被扣押人员，以换取巴勒斯坦囚犯的大规模释放。该提议基于美国特使史蒂夫·威特科夫（Steve Witkoff）7月提出的类似方案，该方案最初是与以色列协调制定的。
然而，内塔尼亚胡在与白宫协调后，近期改变了策略。在坚持仅分阶段谈判部分框架数月后，他现在表示只愿意讨论一项全面协议——该协议将释放所有人质，并按照以色列的条件结束战争。
因此，以色列仍未对哈马斯8月18日接受卡塔尔-埃及提案的举动作出回应。
据两名以色列高级官员透露，内塔尼亚胡不打算在今日的内阁会议上提出谈判议题，尽管该问题可能在关于加沙城的汇报中被提及。这项协议未被正式列入议程，表明该提议在内塔尼亚胡的优先事项清单中排名极低。
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