As starvation grips Gaza, PM says aid will keep flowing — but ministers eye harsher options if ceasefire fails
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to balance two conflicting narratives. On one hand, he wants the world to see Israel as a state that allows food and medicine into a war zone. On the other, his cabinet is actively discussing the re-imposition of a full siege, the possibility of reoccupying the Strip, or even annexing parts of it — if Hamas keeps rejecting a ceasefire deal.
The tension came to a head Monday night in Jerusalem. As images of emaciated children and aid drops under fire from drones and gunmen filled social media, Netanyahu’s office released a carefully worded statement in English insisting that “large amounts” of humanitarian aid were already entering Gaza. He even said Israel would “continue to work with international agencies, as well as the US and European nations.”
But inside the closed-door cabinet meeting, the tone was very different.
From Food Drops to Policy Shocks
One senior Israeli official described the cabinet’s Gaza meeting as “grim, focused, and full of conflicting views.”
At the core of the discussion was a new military proposal — described by Kan public broadcaster as a fresh “siege plan” — that would cut off all aid, again. Not slow it. Not inspect it more tightly. But halt it outright.
The proposal reportedly includes:
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Halting entry of food, water, and medicine through Rafah and Kerem Shalom.
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Designated “buffer zones” in northern and central Gaza.
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Use of Israeli drones to enforce ground blockades.
Defense Ministry officials have not confirmed the full details, but several ministers, speaking anonymously to Israeli reporters, said the tone in the room was shifting toward “a total strategy reset.”
Ministers Float Occupation, Annexation — or Both
According to multiple Hebrew media outlets, senior cabinet members are now mulling whether to physically re-enter and occupy Gaza — either temporarily or in stages — if Hamas refuses to budge on a hostage release and ceasefire deal. One idea floated would involve annexing a narrow strip along the Gaza-Israel border to create a long-term “buffer.”
This comes amid near-total stalemate in Qatari- and Egyptian-led talks, with Hamas refusing to release hostages without guarantees of a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.
The internal options being considered reportedly include:
| Proposal | Description | Political Risk | Military Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Siege | Block all aid entry, target Hamas logistics | High — global backlash expected | Moderate |
| Reoccupation | Deploy IDF ground forces to hold key zones | Very high — possible US opposition | High |
| Annexation of buffer zone | Seize land adjacent to border and declare Israeli control | Extremely high — UN condemnation likely | Low to moderate |
One minister said the humanitarian optics “will be terrible, no matter what,” but that “Hamas is betting we’ll cave — we need to change the equation.”
Aid in the Air, Chaos on the Ground
On Sunday, video footage showed a foreign aircraft dropping aid packages over the central Gaza town of Al-Zawayda. Within seconds, hundreds of desperate residents sprinted toward the supplies — only to scatter under bursts of automatic gunfire. It remains unclear who fired. Some blame local gangs, others point to Hamas trying to control the handout.
This is Gaza now: starvation meets suspicion, and even survival becomes a gamble.
Netanyahu’s office said Monday night that the Prime Minister “recognizes the difficulty of the humanitarian situation.” But he accused Hamas of staging images to manipulate international opinion, suggesting the group “benefits from attempting to fuel the perception of a humanitarian crisis.”
That comment drew swift condemnation online. Several Israeli and international human rights groups called it a “callous deflection.”
Israel Feels the Heat from Allies — and It Shows
American and European officials, including representatives from the Biden administration, are reportedly pressing Israel behind the scenes to maintain aid flows. UN agencies have warned that parts of Gaza are now facing “full-blown famine conditions,” especially in northern areas.
But in private conversations, Israeli officials worry they’re being asked to keep a “terror-sustaining population” afloat while getting nothing in return.
“Washington wants us to keep feeding the same areas Hamas is operating from,” one Israeli source close to the cabinet said. “But where is the quid pro quo?”
Another cabinet official said, almost in frustration: “We’re being scolded while our hostages are still underground.”
Dermer and Hanegbi Meet with US Envoy Witkoff
Amid all this, a separate diplomatic channel is quietly humming. Netanyahu confidants Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi met Monday with US envoy Amos Witkoff, reportedly to discuss both the hostage impasse and postwar scenarios for Gaza.
According to one Israeli media report, the Americans reiterated their opposition to any long-term Israeli occupation of the Strip, while also pushing for more sustained aid flows — not just food drops from planes, but consistent truck deliveries via land crossings.
Little has leaked from that meeting, but one aide said, “The US is walking a tightrope. They want to support Israel but not get dragged into a public fight over aid and annexation.”
Where It All Stands — and What’s Next
As of Tuesday morning, Israeli officials insist they are still giving negotiations “one more chance” before escalating. But patience is thin.
The siege plan isn’t off the table.
Neither is occupation.
And while Netanyahu’s office tries to put a diplomatic face on things, voices inside his cabinet are growing louder, bolder, and less interested in global sympathy.
