Israel’s full security cabinet is expected to approve Benjamin Netanyahu’s Gaza takeover plan when it convenes today, according to Israeli media. Follow the latest updates below.
Thursday 7 August 2025 08:25, UK
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We’ve been reporting that the Israeli security cabinet is expected to give the green light to a Gaza takeover plan when it convenes later today (see previous post).
But what could such a plan involve?
Israel would issue an evacuation notice to the residents of Gaza City in the first phase of the plan, according to Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.
This phase is expected to last several weeks, and include the establishment of civilian infrastructure in central Gaza, including hospitals and camps for evacuees.
The military offensive will then be launched in the second phase of the plan, while Donald Trump would reportedly announce the acceleration of humanitarian aid in coordination with Israel.
On Wednesday, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Bloomberg that there was a push to add 12 aid sites to the four operated by Israel and the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Channel 12 reported that the expansion would be funded by around $1bn in donations from the US and other countries.
The military campaign is expected to last between four and five months and involve up to five Israel Defence Forces divisions, according to Israeli media.
But as we’ve been reporting, Benjamin Netanyahu was presented with a range of options when he met security officials earlier this week.
Public broadcaster Kan is reporting that an alternative plan is to encircle Gaza City and the central Gaza camps, block aid to those areas and launch pinpoint raids.
However, the Israeli prime minister has reportedly dismissed this option.
Israel is expected to approve Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for a takeover of Gaza when the security cabinet meets later today.
According to the Times of Israel, the full cabinet is due to convene at 6pm local time, 4pm in the UK.
Israeli media are reporting that the plan could potentially span over five months, and it is likely to be aimed at destroying Hamas and pressuring it to free remaining hostages.
While some ministers have been critical of the plan, reports suggest Netanyahu is likely to secure a majority of support.
The meeting comes after Netanyahu held three-hour talks with a smaller group of security officials on Tuesday, where he was presented with several options by Israel Defence Forces chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir.
Today, we could hear more about Benjamin Netanyahu’s reported plan to press ahead with a full occupation of Gaza.
Israel’s full security cabinet is due to meet later today to finalise plans, which could then be revealed to the public.
That all comes despite growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which the UN said yesterday is “beyond catastrophe”.
Stay with us for the latest in Israel and Gaza here.
That’s all for now – we’ll be back with the latest from Israel and Gaza soon.
In the meantime, here’s a quick recap of today’s developments:
To add to that, we’ll soon be hearing from Donald Trump, who’s making a “big announcement”, believed to be about investment from Apple.
Typically, the US president takes questions in these sorts of events, and the topics tend to vary.
He’s bound to be asked about Ukraine and will likely also be questioned on Israel and Gaza.
We’ll bring you anything he says right here.
You may also watch along in the video at the top of the page signposted below, covering the Ukraine war – just tap on the link.
Away from Gaza, reports from Lebanon suggest explosions have been seen in the south of the country.
According to media reports, Israel is carrying out airstrikes in various areas.
The Israeli military has not commented.
We’ve got a bit more to bring you from the UN now.
A new report by the body’s Food and Agriculture Organisation and its satellite centre has found just 8.6% of Gaza’s cropland is accessible.
This follows sweeping evacuation orders made by the Israeli military in recent months.
Just 1.5% is both accessible and undamaged, the report added.
Israel’s offensive and a breakdown in security have made it extremely difficult for anyone to safely deliver aid, with humanitarian groups reporting recent Israeli measures to facilitate more help are not enough.
An issue we’ve been reporting alongside our coverage of the war in Gaza in this blog is the question of Hezbollah limiting its arms.
The Lebanese militant group – which is separate from the government – is under pressure from Beirut and Washington to disarm.
This would be a significant development, given the group’s stated support for Gaza and longstanding opposition to Israel.
Lebanon’s cabinet yesterday tasked the army with drawing up a plan to establish a state monopoly on arms by the end of the year – something Hezbollah warns would be a “grave sin” only serving Israel.
So, why is this happening now?
Hezbollah was left reeling after Israel killed much of its top brass last year, before a US-brokered truce officially brought that fighting to an end in November.
That deal committed Lebanon to restricting arms to six specific state security forces, and stipulated it should confiscate unauthorised weapons and prevent rearmament by non-state groups – Hezbollah being one.
Despite that ceasefire, Israel has continued strikes on what it says are Hezbollah arms depots and fighters, mostly in southern Lebanon.
In June, US envoy Thomas Barrack put forward a roadmap to Lebanese officials to fully disarm Hezbollah.
That would be in exchange for Israel halting its strikes on Lebanon and withdrawing troops from five points they still occupy.
Fears of backlash
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected each clause in Barrack’s roadmap.
And looming over any bid to force Hezbollah to disarm is the memory of previous bouts of civil unrest.
Political complication
Moreover, Lebanon’s power-sharing system adds to the obstacles.
This is a system that apportions public sector posts – including in parliament and the cabinet – to different religious sects.
This is meant to ensure no sect is left out of decisions, but critics say it causes political paralysis.
Shi’ite representation is dominated by Hezbollah and its political ally Amal.
Key deadlines
But this month could be key, with the cabinet giving the army a deadline of the end of August to submit a disarmament plan.
Tomorrow, another session is scheduled to discuss Barrack’s proposal.
Some Lebanese parties may try to find a workaround that avoids a confrontation between Hezbollah and the state.
Comments coming out of the UN continue to highlight growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Today, the secretary-general’s spokesperson told reporters the situation is “beyond catastrophic”.
“Hospitals are overstretched,” said Farhan Haq.
“Patients are lying on the floor or in the streets, suffering, as beds, medical supplies and equipment are severely lacking.”
Yesterday, he added, emergency medical teams were “denied entry” into Gaza.
Limited fuel is also impacting life-saving operations, Haq said.
“Our partners working in health warned today that the lives of more than 100 premature babies are in imminent danger due to the lack of fuel,” he added.
“Benzene has reached very low levels, with hardly any entering Gaza during the past 10 days.”
Any expansion into Gaza will only lead to more death and more chaos, our international correspondent Diana Magnay says.
But this likely isn’t at the forefront of Benjamin Netanyahu’s mind, she adds, as he reportedly considers a full occupation of the territory.
With a potential decision looming tomorrow – and as public opinion abroad appears to shift against him – this may even be Netanyahu trying every option he can.
Watch her full analysis in the clip below…
What’s happening in Gaza is a “stain on the conscience of the international community”.
That’s according to Egypt’s foreign minister, who added the world should be “ashamed of the tragic situation unfolding in Gaza and the devastating actions being carried out by Israel”.
Speaking to reporters in Greece during a visit, Badr Abdelatty described Israel’s war in the territory as a “systematic genocide”.
He also said his country, which neighbours Israel and shares a border with Gaza, “firmly rejects any displacement of the Palestinian people from their ancestral lands”.
Israel has consistently denied any allegations of genocide.
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