Netanyahu: ‘We are not going to occupy Gaza — we are going to free Gaza from Hamas’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu writes on X that Israel aims to “free Gaza from Hamas,” and is not going to occupy it, a day after the security cabinet approved plans to fully take over the Gaza Strip.

“We are not going to occupy Gaza — we are going to free Gaza from Hamas. Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization. This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future,” he writes.

The decision by the cabinet last night did not use the word “occupy,” and instead referred to “taking over,” due to legal reasons pertaining to Israel’s responsibility for civilian matters in Gaza, according to the Ynet news site. The outlet added, however, citing an unnamed senior Israeli official, that this distinction was superficial, and the decision in fact relates to full military rule. The conquest would stop if a hostage deal is clinched, according to the report.

Moreover, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reportedly argued that the operation risks placing Israel under responsibility for providing services for the entire Palestinian population in Gaza. To date, Israel has argued that the UN and aid organizations are responsible for providing services, as it does not have effective control over Gaza’s territory, but this could change once Israel adds Gaza City to the territory it has conquered in the Strip.

We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.

Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization.

This will help free…

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) August 8, 2025