Israeli’s far-right finance minister required Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discard his plan to take the city of Gaza in favor of a harder strategy, while Italy said on Sunday that the plan could result in a “Vietnam” to the Israeli army.
Netanyahu’s security office, of which Minister Bezalel Smotrich is a member, approved by majority on Friday to expand military operations at the Palestinian enclave destroyed to try to defeat the militant group Hamas.
The measure attracted a choir of condemnation within Israel, where thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv on Saturday, asking for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages maintained by the Hamas Militant Group, as well as abroad.
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The United Nations Security Council is expected to meet later this Sunday to discuss the plan, with many countries expressing concern that it can worsen the already acute hunger among the Palestinians.
Netanyahu is expected to give a news conference to the international media in Israel and make a televised announcement at the end of the day. It was not clear what will be announced.
Smotrich said he lost faith in Netanyahu’s ability and desire to lead to a victory over Hamas. The new plan, he said in an X video at the end of Saturday, aims to make Hamas return to ceasefire negotiations.
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The Prime Minister and the Cabinet decided to do “more of the same,” he said, referring to the fact that Israeli troops have entered the city before and failed to defeat Hamas.
He and other far -right members of the Netanyahu coalition argue that the plan does not go far enough, while the army, who opposes the military government in Gaza, warned that this would endanger the remaining hosts held by Hamas, as well as Israeli troops.
Smotrich didn’t give Netanyahu a clear ultimatum.
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Other extreme right allies of the Netanyahu coalition also press over the total military occupation of Gaza, the annexation of large areas of the territory and the removal of much of its Palestinian population.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who made similar appeals, told the Army radio on Sunday that the plan to take the city of Gaza is good as long as it is the first step.
The Israeli military warned that the expansion of the offensive could endanger the life of the hosts that Hamas still keep in Gaza, which is believed to be about 20, and bring their troops to a prolonged and deadly guerrilla combat.
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Italy said that Israel should pay attention to the warnings of its army.
“Gaza’s invasion is in danger of turning into a Vietnam to Israeli soldiers,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with Il Messaggero.
He reiterated requests for a United Nations mission led by Arab countries to “gather the Palestinian state” and said Italy is ready to participate.
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It is likely that the Security Council discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the perspective of its aggravation if the Israeli plan goes on, but so far there has been little appetite between the Arab states to send their troops.
