The Impressive TimesWashington [US], August 10 : US President Donald Trump has indicated tacit support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to take control of the Gaza Strip, framing it as an internal Israeli decision despite mounting international backlash, The Hill reported.
While pledging that the US will lead humanitarian aid efforts amid Gaza’s deepening crisis, Trump stopped short of opposing Israel’s military expansion in the region. “As far as the rest of it, I really can’t say. That’s going to be pretty much up to Israel,” he said earlier this week.
Netanyahu’s plan, approved by Israel’s security Cabinet, has intensified domestic divisions and further isolated Israel from European, Arab, and Gulf allies. Germany has suspended military exports to Israel for use in Gaza, joining France, Canada, and the UK, which has called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
US Vice President JD Vance, after meeting British Foreign Minister David Lammy, acknowledged policy differences but stressed shared goals. “There’s a lot of common objectives here. There is some, I think, disagreement about how exactly to accomplish those common objectives,” he said.
Netanyahu dismissed criticism, insisting, “We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.” He pledged to establish a peaceful civilian administration independent of both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, aiming to secure the release of hostages and prevent future threats.
However, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir cautioned the Cabinet that such a move could jeopardize hostages and risk prolonged military entanglement, though he committed to executing the plan “in the best possible way.” Public opinion in Israel remains split, with many doubting the operation will dismantle Hamas or ensure hostages’ safety. Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the decision as a “total disaster.”
In the US, bipartisan support for Israel persists, but concerns over Netanyahu’s strategy and the humanitarian toll are growing. Figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have labeled the conflict a “genocide,” while Senator Bernie Sanders has gained traction in efforts to block arms sales to Israel.
Saudi Arabia has strongly denounced the Gaza takeover plan, accusing Israel of “crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar, working with the US, are reportedly drafting a ceasefire proposal that would involve hostage releases in exchange for ending the war and Israeli withdrawal, according to The Associated Press.
Will Todman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies warned that without a clear exit strategy, a prolonged occupation could be disastrous. “Unless the United States changes its stance, I think ultimately, Israel will continue with this plan,” he said.
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