Israel is approaching a new phase of the war: will the occupation of Gaza be a strategic mistake for Netanyahu – Rezazade 

The Israeli government has approved a plan that paves the way for a potential occupation of Gaza, including military control of Gaza. This came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a loud statement in an interview with Fox News, where he publicly announced his intention to take control of the entire Gaza Strip.

However, as follows from the official summary from the Prime Minister’s Office, the approved plan does not fully correspond to his rhetoric. The Security Cabinet did not support an alternative option, which, according to Netanyahu, would guarantee neither victory over Hamas nor the return of Israeli hostages.

Commenting on the events, international expert and first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, Ali Reza Rezazade, notes:

“Netanyahu’s decision is not only a military strategy, but also a deeply political move. It is designed to satisfy the far-right coalition partners who have long demanded a full occupation of Gaza. At the same time, it is a way to pressure Hamas to return it to the negotiating table.”

According to Rezazade, the risks outweigh the benefits:

“A full occupation will require months of heavy fighting, huge human and political losses. The Israeli government already claims control over 75% of the territory, but the military leadership — including Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir — opposes a full occupation. Zamir warns directly: it threatens the lives of the 20 hostages who are still believed to be alive, and the exhausted reservists who have been serving for more than 22 months.”

The military’s position suggests an alternative approach — intensive strikes, blockades, and psychological pressure on Hamas, without directly capturing densely populated areas, including refugee camps in the center of the sector.

Rezazade emphasizes:

“Netanyahu is looking for a way out of the political trap. His government has experienced a breakdown in negotiations, and the war is becoming increasingly toxic for Israel on the international stage. Therefore, a demonstration of “determination” is not only a message to Hamas, but also an attempt to strengthen power within the country.”

At the same time, the UN warns: any expansion of the operation could lead to catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians and complicate the situation with the hostages.

No final decision has been made yet on the full occupation of Gaza. But the very fact of adopting the corresponding plan signals the readiness of the Israeli leadership to go beyond the limits of a local military operation — with all the risks that this entails.