'Israel' plots Gaza occupation strategy in White House talks
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Israeli officials push plans to occupy Gaza while claiming no long-term occupation goals, as US and UK figures back discussions at the White House.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, from right, attends a meeting with President Donald Trump, not pictured, with Netanyahu's wife Sara Netanyahu, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, in the Blue Room of the White House, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer reportedly presented a detailed plan for the occupation of Gaza and the "expansion of humanitarian aid" during a high-level meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, Axios reported, citing informed sources.
According to the report, Dermer alleged that "Israel" does not intend to maintain long-term control of the enclave.
The meeting, held on Wednesday, brought together Trump, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. Senior US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, were also in attendance, the report noted.
Conditions for Gaza’s future administration
Dermer reportedly conveyed that "Israel" is prepared to hand over Gaza to an authority other than Hamas.
“Dermer’s message was: As long as our conditions are met, we will be flexible about everything else,” one source told Axios.
Previous reports indicated that "Israel" is preparing for a large-scale military assault on Gaza City. In August, Israeli broadcaster Kan reported that Security Minister Israel Katz had approved the operation, while Army Radio suggested the campaign could drag on until 2026, mobilizing up to 130,000 reservists at its peak.
Later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially endorsed the military’s strategy to occupy Gaza City.
Exhausted Israeli troops complicating operations in Gaza: NYT
However, the situation on the ground appears to diverge sharply from the plans crafted in political and military offices. After hundreds of days of relentless military service, exhaustion has taken its toll on "Israeli" reserve forces. According to The New York Times, the number of reservists enlisting has significantly dropped, while a growing segment is now refusing to participate in a war they no longer believe in.
"Israel" is preparing to call up tens of thousands of reservists for its invasion of Gaza City, but military officials admit it's unclear how many will answer the summons after nearly two years of war.
In recent months, a growing number of Israeli reservists have been failing to report for duty. Some cite exhaustion, along with the need to salvage strained marriages or faltering careers, while others express growing disillusionment with the war.
Discontent obstructs Netanyahu's plans
The growing discontent within the military ranks threatens to complicate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza City in a bid to "decisively crush" Hamas, as the army has announced it plans to call up an additional 60,000 reservists and extend the service of another 20,000.
