BRUSSELS: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, bewildered by the condemnations of security cabinet’s decision Friday (8th August, 2025) apropos controlling Gaza city, took a U-Turn saying that he did not intend to occupy Gaza: “We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.”
Eyal Zamir, the chief of Israeli armed forces, himself opposed the plan to occupy Gaza City. Moreover, the Israeli reservist organization had asked the troops to ignore orders. Yotam Vilk, a captain in the reserves said in a Haaretz‘ op-ed that he felt betrayed by the Israeli government: “I can’t stay silent. Not after I saw with my own eyes the human toll of any additional day in Gaza. Not after I saw what neglect and abandonment look like, and how a government willing to sacrifice all of us for the sake of its false promises looks like.”
France, that is set to recognise the state of Palestine at the UN session, has condemned in strongest terms the Israeli’s plan to control Gaza city: “These actions would constitute further serious violations of international law and lead to an absolute stalemate. They would undermine the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to live in peace in a viable, sovereign, and contiguous state, and pose a threat to regional stability.” France believes that the future of Gaza should be through a framework of a future Palestinian state led by Palestinian Authority.
On 8th of August, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called on Israel to reconsider its plan to control Gaza. Taking to the Social Media, she stated, state: “The Israeli government’s decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered. At the same time, there must be the release of all hostages, who are being held in inhumane conditions. And humanitarian aid must be given immediate and unhindered access to Gaza to deliver what is urgently needed on the ground. A ceasefire is needed now.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proclaimed that his country would not approve any exports of military equipment to Israel. Germany, that had supported Jerusalem for a long time, warned in May: “The Israeli government must not do anything that its best friends are no longer prepared to accept.” But now Merz has made it clear that Berlin would not tolerate the worsening condition in Gaza.
Belgium disapproved Israel’s plan to control Gaza City and continued colonisation of Palestinian land. Maxime Prevot, Belgium’s Foreign Minister, told that the Israeli Envoy had been informed about Brussels’ stance.
Newspakistan.tv
