Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved a plan to take over Gaza City, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Friday.

In an interview with Fox News ahead of the meeting, Netanyahu said the goal is to “assure our security, remove Hamas, enable the population to be free of Gaza.” He added that Israel does not intend to keep the territory but will create a security perimeter and then hand governance to Arab forces capable of ensuring stability “without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life.”

Hamas denounced Netanyahu’s remarks, calling them a “clear reversal of the course of negotiations” and an exposure of the “true motives” behind Israel’s recent withdrawal from talks.

Gaza health authorities reported Thursday that at least 9,752 Palestinians have been killed and 40,004 injured since Israel renewed its intensive strikes on March 18, bringing the death toll since October 2023 to 61,258, with 152,045 injured.

Israel’s military said that on Wednesday, five countries — the UAE, Jordan, Germany, Belgium, and France — dropped 107 aid packages over Gaza containing food supplies. Airdrops began in late July after images of starving children sparked global outrage over Israel’s blockade. However, UN officials warned that such efforts are insufficient without opening land crossings and restoring medical facilities, as all hospitals in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed.

Nearly 22 months into the war, famine is spreading rapidly in Gaza. On July 27, the Israel Defense Forces announced a daily “local tactical pause” in non-active combat areas, including Deir al-Balah, al-Mawasi, and Gaza City, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., to facilitate limited humanitarian aid delivery.