Israel plans to takeover Gaza despite criticism of all sides

As harrowing images of starving children and bombed-out neighborhoods in Gaza circulate globally, pressure is intensifying on Israel to end its military campaign, allow humanitarian aid, and accept the creation of a Palestinian state. With over 61,000 Gazans reportedly killed in nearly two years of fighting and famine looming, global condemnation is mounting yet Israel remains defiant.

The Jewish state is facing unprecedented diplomatic and legal isolation, including potential arms embargoes, arrest warrants for top officials, and cultural boycotts. But instead of yielding, Israel is doubling down militarily and ideologically. Once a secular, socialist outpost, Israel is today a formidable regional superpower with a robust tech-driven economy, a GDP per capita exceeding that of the UK, and a nationalist-religious government determined to maintain absolute security dominance.

“Israel is undergoing a deep change,” says Dan Meridor, a former minister under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We’re seeing a rise of religious populism where Zionism is no longer a national movement but a divine mission.”

Over the past year, Israel has launched strikes across the Middle East: targeting Hezbollah leaders and missile stockpiles in Lebanon, bombing Houthi positions in Yemen, and degrading Iran’s nuclear capabilities. It has expanded Jewish settlements in the West Bank and obstructed aid to Gaza actions widely condemned as violations of international law.

Now, Netanyahu’s government is poised to decide whether to fully occupy Gaza a move likely to deepen Israel’s pariah status even further. Yet, Israel’s key backer, former U.S. President Donald Trump, isn’t objecting. “Trump respects Israel’s right to do what it has to do,” said Mike Huckabee, Trump’s ambassador to Israel, in a recent interview.

Meanwhile, hunger in Gaza is spiraling into famine. “Starvation is knocking on every door,” warned UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Though Israel denies it, even Trump recently acknowledged “real starvation” in the enclave.

Despite global outrage, most Israeli Jews appear unmoved. A recent poll found that 79% are not troubled by the Gaza conflict. Protests within Israel largely focus on hostage recovery, not Palestinian suffering.

With over 150 countries signaling potential recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN, Israel is becoming increasingly isolated yet domestically, it continues its rightward shift, mirroring the populist-religious transformation seen in nations like Turkey.

The war has not only hardened Israeli policy but also deepened Palestinian support for Hamas, complicating any prospects for peace. As Israel forges ahead, it must grapple with the growing dissonance between its military dominance and the humanitarian devastation in Gaza.