WSJ: Netanyahu wants to occupy Gaza, it won't be as easy as he thinks
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As "Israel" debates a reoccupation of Gaza, Netanyahu faces internal opposition and rising international backlash.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the audience at a conference in al-Quds, Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Netanyahu started "Israel's" genocidal war on Gaza with two goals in mind: decisively defeat the Palestinian Resistance so it never poses a threat to the Israeli occupation again, and return all Israeli captives. Almost two years into the war, "Israel" has failed to achieve both objectives, prompting Netanyahu to consider occupying the entire Gaza Strip. An article in the Wall Street Journal outlines the troubles that will accompany an Israeli occupation of Gaza.
Israeli media have in recent days suggested that Netanyahu may have already decided to pursue a full occupation of Gaza, despite opposition from the chief of staff of the Israeli occupation forces. Some Israeli government officials have publicly supported the move, while opposition figures remain sharply critical.
On Monday, Netanyahu stated he would convene the security cabinet to issue guidance to the IOF on achieving "Israel's" two war objectives. A lengthy security consultation with the military chief followed on Tuesday.
With ceasefire negotiations stalled and war objectives unmet, some right-wing voices are urging "Israel" to follow through with a full occupation of Gaza. "The chief of staff must clearly state that he will fully comply with the directives of the political echelon, even if a decision is made for conquest and decisive action," Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in an X post on Tuesday.
נדרש מהרמטכ"ל להבהיר בקולו כי ימלא באופן מלא אחר הוראות הדרג המדיני, גם אם יוחלט על כיבוש והכרעה.
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) August 5, 2025
Strategic and military considerations
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir has reportedly expressed a preference for limited operations using "precise firepower," which would reduce troop fatigue and avoid potential strategic pitfalls. "We will reduce the fatigue of our troops and avoid falling into Hamas’ traps," he stated.
Supporters of full occupation argue that militarily, the occupation of the Strip would be relatively easy, as according to the Wall Street Journal.
According to the paper, "Israel" already has de-facto control over about 75% of Gaza, and the Israeli military believes that Hamas no longer maintains an organized military force. However, the post-occupation challenges would be significant as "Israel" would be responsible for administering services to over 2 million Palestinians, including food, healthcare, and education, while maintaining control in a hostile environment.
🚨 According to the latest OCHA map:
— Gaza Notifications (@gazanotice) June 26, 2025
82.6% of Gaza now falls under:
Israeli military zones,
Forced evacuation orders,
Or both.
Map colors:
🟣 Purple – Israeli military zone (requires coordination for any humanitarian activity)
🔴 Red – Areas under evacuation orders since March… pic.twitter.com/KGNesGXEVO
Additionally, there is a consistent pattern of Hamas and other Palestinian factions ambushing Israeli forces in areas previously declared "cleared." Resistance fighters repeatedly re-entered these zones, such as Jabalia, Khan Younis, and Gaza City neighborhoods, using tunnels, booby-trapped buildings, and IEDs to catch troops off guard. Hence, the Palestinian Resistance has managed to transform the Gaza Strip into an enclave that is near impossible to occupy.
The article reports a study by Professor Esteban Klor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem which estimated that a military occupation could cost approximately 35 billion shekels ($10 billion), around 2% of "Israel's" GDP. This figure excludes infrastructure reconstruction costs, which donor nations may refuse to shoulder if "Israel" proceeds unilaterally.
1967–2005 Israeli occupation of Gaza
"Israel" previously occupied Gaza from 1967 until the Palestinian resistance forced it to withdraw in 2005. That 38-year period fundamentally transformed life in the Strip. Immediately after occupying Gaza in 1967, "Israel" imposed a curfew, replaced Egyptian currency with Israeli currency, and instituted an ID system to control Palestinian movement.
The occupation dismantled Gaza’s self-reliant economy by restricting trade, controlling resources, and denying Palestinians access to external markets. Fishing zones were heavily limited, and fertile land was seized for settlements. By 2005, 21 settlements housed roughly 9,000 settlers who used vastly more resources than the native population.
Map of PA and Israeli control of Gaza prior to the 2005 disengagement: pic.twitter.com/kIPtG7QKDV
— Niranjan Shankar (@NiranjanShan13) August 3, 2025
These settlers, while constituting only 0.4% of Gaza's total population, consumed 19 times more water per capita than Palestinians. Each settler had access to an average of 2.6 acres of land, compared to just 0.006 acres per Palestinian, a staggering 400-to-1 disparity. In total, 34% of Gaza's land was confiscated for settlements and associated infrastructure.
A military governorate oversaw civilian life, controlling work, travel, housing, and basic services. The water supply was monopolized, leading to gross inequalities. Social and economic fragmentation, psychological trauma, and dependency on foreign aid became defining features of life under occupation. Over the course of the occupation, the agricultural sector was devastated, thousands of homes were demolished, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were detained without trial.
Humanitarian and economic impact
Critics of a renewed occupation emphasize the humanitarian cost and international backlash. They argue that "Israel" would inherit the full burden of Gaza's devastated economy and public services. A military presence would need to be large and permanent, potentially exacerbating "Israel's" global isolation.
Additionally, fears persist that such a move could endanger the remaining captives and strengthen Hamas politically. "We see what’s happening now. It will just make it worse. I’m not sure to what extent Israeli society will support occupying all of Gaza," Avner Golov, a former official at "Israel's" National Security Council, told the Wall Street Journal.
According to the Wall Street Journal, some analysts believe Netanyahu is using the threat of occupation to pressure Hamas into accepting the ceasefire terms he wants to impose. However, a recent poll by the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv revealed limited support for a military government in Gaza (27%), with more respondents favoring a technocratic government backed by Egypt (50%), and another 12% backing a Palestinian Authority administration of the Strip, a proposition "Israel" rejects.
