Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his plan to take complete control of the Gaza Strip during a Fox News interview on Thursday morning. The statement has caused shock across the region and raised serious concerns about the fate of hostages still held in Gaza.
The announcement comes as the conflict in Gaza enters its second year, with the territory already facing widespread destruction and a continuing humanitarian crisis. Famine conditions persist throughout Gaza, and any full occupation would likely make the situation much worse for the area’s 2 million Palestinian residents.
When asked directly about Israel’s plans for Gaza control, Netanyahu gave a clear response. “We intend to,” he said when pressed about whether Israel would take control of all of Gaza. He explained that this move was needed “in order to assure” Israeli security while working to “remove Hamas there” and “enable the population to be free of Gaza.”
Families fear for hostages as occupation plans take shape
The families of hostages currently held in Gaza are deeply worried that a full invasion would put their loved ones in even greater danger. Reports suggest that about 20 hostages are still alive out of the 50 who remain in captivity. Hamas militants kidnapped 251 people during their attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
Security experts believe that Iran-backed Hamas has told its guards to kill the hostages if Israeli forces get too close. This makes any ground operation extremely risky for the captives, who are thought to be held in underground tunnels or other hidden locations throughout Gaza.
FOX: Will Israel take control of all of Gaza?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 7, 2025
NETANYAHU: We intend to pic.twitter.com/7fXkcbPeoy
A full occupation would require Israeli forces to enter some of the most crowded areas of Gaza, including places where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are now living in tent camps. The central city of Deir al-Balah and the coastal area of Muwasi, which has been set up as a humanitarian zone, would likely see major military operations.
Israel already controls about 75% of Gaza’s territory through buffer zones and evacuation orders. The country has also mostly sealed off Gaza’s borders, leaving civilians with very few places to go if more areas come under attack. This has created a serious problem for aid groups trying to deliver food and medical supplies to people who desperately need help.
The proposed takeover might be a political move by Netanyahu to gain support from his far-right coalition partners, who have long wanted to increase military action in Gaza. These groups also support encouraging Palestinians to leave Gaza and want to rebuild Jewish settlements that were removed when Israel left the area in 2005.
The decision will likely depend on support from U.S. President Donald Trump. When asked about Israel retaking Gaza on Tuesday, Trump said he didn’t know about the “suggestion” but noted that “it’s going to be pretty much up to Israel.” However, reports on Thursday suggested that a senior U.S. official told Axios that Trump has changed his position and doesn’t necessarily support the takeover, though these reports have not been confirmed.
The war began after Hamas’s attack in October 2023 and has already resulted in the deaths of over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not separate civilian and fighter casualties.
