Hamas attacks Netanyahu's plan to control Gaza: a coup against ceasefire efforts

The Hamas movement, in a statement issued yesterday, expressed its strong rejection of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks regarding complete military control over the Gaza Strip, describing them as a "coup" against the negotiations aimed at stopping the fire in the sector.

Hamas confirmed in its statement that Netanyahu's plans to expand aggression confirm his intention to get rid of Palestinian prisoners and sacrifice them to serve his personal interests, while tensions in the region increased with the start of the Israeli security council meeting last night to discuss expanding military operations in Gaza, a step that faces widespread international and internal opposition, especially from the families of the prisoners held by the movement.

Netanyahu had stated earlier on Thursday during an interview with "Fox News" that Israel intends to militarily control the entire Gaza Strip, but he clarified that Israel does not wish to maintain direct rule over the sector, but aims to establish a "security perimeter" and ultimately hand over the administration of Gaza to Arab forces that govern it efficiently and ensure that Israel is not threatened.

In a press conference following his meeting with the Indian ambassador, Netanyahu explained that the plan includes handing over the Gaza Strip to a "temporary governing body" that manages the affairs of the population, emphasizing that this solution is impossible with the presence of the Hamas movement.

He added that the war could end "tomorrow" if Hamas laid down its arms and released the prisoners held by the movement unconditionally.

In a parallel development, the news site "Axios" reported that U.S. President Donald Trump decided not to oppose Netanyahu's decision regarding the complete occupation of the Gaza Strip, leaving the Israeli government free to take the actions it deems appropriate.

On the military side, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir confirmed in statements yesterday that he will continue to express his opinion "without fear" before the small security council meeting to discuss the next steps in the war on Gaza. An official statement quoted him as saying that he would take his positions in an "objective, independent, and professional" manner.

Local media reports indicate Zamir's rejection of government plans that include complete control over the Palestinian sector, which has been suffering from destruction due to the ongoing war for 22 months, confirming that his primary goal is to defeat the Hamas movement and recover the held prisoners without falling into "strategic traps" that could cost the forces a heavy price.

The "Israel Hayom" website reported that Zamir opposes full occupation for fear of the lives of the prisoners and the depletion of the army, proposing a plan that includes surrounding key points in the sector while applying continuous pressure on Hamas to create favorable conditions for the release of hostages.