Donald Trump States It's Israel's Decision on Occupying Gaza Following Takeover Reports

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United States President Donald Trump declined to say whether he supported or opposed a potential military takeover of Gaza by Israel and said his administration’s focus was on increasing food access to the Palestinian enclave under assault from the US’s ally.

“I know that we are there now trying to get people fed. As far as the rest of it, I really can’t say. That’s going to be pretty much up to Israel,” Trump told reporters in Washington, DC, when asked if he supported Israel reoccupying all of Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met senior security officials on Tuesday, with media reporting he favoured a complete military takeover of Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement the prime minister had held a “limited security discussion” lasting about three hours during which military chief of staff Eyal Zamir “presented the options for continuing the campaign in Gaza”.

An Israeli official had earlier told Reuters defence minister Israel Katz and strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer, a confidant of Netanyahu, would also attend the meeting to decide on a strategy to take to the cabinet this week.

Israeli media reported the cabinet would convene on Friday 1am AEST.

Israel’s Channel 12, citing an official from Netanyahu’s office, had said the prime minister was leaning towards taking control of the entire territory. That would reverse a 2005 decision to withdraw Israeli citizens and soldiers from Gaza, while retaining control over its borders, airspace and utilities, a move right-wing parties blame for Hamas gaining power there in the 2006 election.

It was unclear, however, whether Netanyahu was foreseeing a prolonged takeover or a short-term operation aimed at dismantling Hamas and freeing Israeli hostages.

The prime minister’s office declined to comment on the Channel 12 report.

“It is still necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, release our hostages and ensure that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu told new recruits at a military base. “We are not giving up on any of these missions.”

The United Nations called reports about a possible decision to expand Israel’s military operations throughout the Gaza Strip “deeply alarming” if true.

UN assistant secretary-general Miroslav Jenča told a Security Council meeting: “International law is clear in the regard; Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state.”

A Palestinian official said the suggestion of a full Israeli military takeover of Gaza may be a tactic to pressure Hamas into concessions, while the Palestinian foreign ministry urged foreign nations to take heed of the reports.

“The ministry urges countries and the international community to treat these leaks with utmost seriousness and to intervene urgently to prevent their implementation, whether these leaks are meant to exert pressure, test international reactions, or are genuine and serious,” it said.

Israel’s coalition government, the most right-wing and religiously conservative in its history, includes far-right politicians who advocate the annexation of both Gaza and the West Bank and encourage Palestinians to leave their homeland.

The International Court of Justice said in 2024 that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and should end soon.

Palestinians living in the last quarter of territory where Israel has not yet taken military control, via ground incursions or demands for civilians to leave, said any new push would be catastrophic.

“If the tanks pushed through, where would we go, into the sea?” said Abu Jehad, a Gaza wood merchant. “This will be like a death sentence to the entire population.”

Meanwhile, local health authorities said at least 20 people were killed by Israeli gunfire as they waited for UN aid trucks in the northern Gaza Strip. While 20 people were wounded by Israeli gunfire in southern Gaza as they waited to get aid near Morag Square near Rafah, medics said.

Eight more people died of starvation or malnutrition in the last day, Gaza’s health ministry said, while at least 80 people were killed in the latest Israeli firing.

Some 188 Palestinians, including 94 children, have died from hunger since the war escalated, according to Gaza authorities.

On Saturday, Hamas released a video of the Israeli hostage Evyatar David, appearing emaciated in what seemed to be an underground tunnel. The images shocked Israelis and sparked international condemnation.

David’s brother told the Security Council to use its leverage to secure the immediate unconditional release of remaining hostages and to ensure humanitarian aid reaches them.

A man beamed on large monitors in front of people sitting in a conference room.

Ilay David, on screen, holds up a picture of his brother Evyatar, who is being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, during a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York. Source: EPA / Justin Lane

“Every moment of delay is a step closer to final tragic outcome,” Ilay David told the meeting.

He said the video showed his brother as “a living skeleton. He had barely the strength to move or speak, his voice barely recognisable”, the brother said, adding neither he nor his mother could bring themselves to watch.

As outrage built over the video, Netanyahu requested the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross to aid hostages in Gaza.

Hamas’ armed wing said it would allow the agency access to the hostages but only if “humanitarian corridors” for food and aid were opened “across all areas of the Gaza Strip”.

The al-Qassam Brigades said it did “not intentionally starve” the hostages, but they would not receive any special food privileges “amid the crime of starvation and siege” in Gaza.