Gaza From Occupation to Control: A Legal and Political Illusion For Netanyahu to Commit More Crimes

By Elijah J. Magnier –

Israel has announced plans for a major ground assault to seize and “control” Gaza City—strategically located between the Mefalsim and Netzarim corridors and once home to some 750,000 Palestinians. The move is widely viewed as the primary reason for Israel’s abrupt withdrawal from the latest ceasefire talks with Hamas in Qatar. According to Israeli media, the war cabinet has already approved a broader strategy to “control” (not occupy) the entire Gaza Strip, with the capture of Gaza City set as the next phase—following the takeover of the northern and southern sectors during 22 months of relentless fighting. According to Israeli military assessments, fully taking the city—an operation officials insist on calling “control” rather than “occupation”—would require three months of fighting and the forcible displacement of its remaining residents. It is unlikely to secure the release of Israeli prisoners held in the area; instead, it risks triggering their execution, as Hamas has repeatedly warned.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be rethinking the plan under mounting international pressure and threats to suspend cooperation with Israel. Among several European countries, even Germany—supplier of roughly 30% of Israel’s military components—has announced restrictions if the assault proceeds. Yet for Netanyahu, Gaza City is only a step to maintain his government’s coalition. The goal is to prepare for full control of the entire Gaza Strip in a later phase, framed in official discourse as “control”, a deliberate choice to minimise legal obligations while cementing long-term dominance.This military push, and the language used to justify it, is part of Israel’s broader strategy to reshape Gaza’s legal status while retaining absolute authority over its land, sea, and air. As the war on Gaza enters a new phase in August 2025, Israeli officials have dropped the term “occupation” altogether. Instead, they speak of “control”—a seemingly subtle shift with far-reaching legal, political, and moral consequences. It is not merely a linguistic adjustment, but a calculated manoeuvre to avoid accountability while tightening Israel’s grip over Gaza’s most strategic areas.