Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly prepared to move forward with annexing parts of the Gaza Strip—with the backing of the Trump administration—if Hamas refuses to agree to a ceasefire, according to a report by Israeli outlet Haaretz.
The proposed annexation plan, sources say, is also aimed at securing the political support of far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, whose continued presence in Netanyahu’s fragile coalition may hinge on such a move. The plan is expected to be brought before Netanyahu’s cabinet following the approval of additional humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The initial areas targeted for annexation reportedly include the buffer zone, followed by sections in the north near the Israeli cities of Sderot and Ashkelon. Over time, the plan would expand to cover the entire Gaza Strip. The fate of the over two million Palestinians currently living in Gaza remains unclear.
Smotrich has expressed cautious support for the proposal, stating he will “judge by actions,” and that if annexation proceeds, he will stay in the coalition “for the time being.” When asked about the increase in aid, Smotrich commented, “We are promoting a good strategic move on which it is not advisable to elaborate at the moment. In a short time, we will know if it is successful and where we are headed.”
The report follows remarks from President Donald Trump, who recently blamed Hamas for the breakdown in ceasefire negotiations and implied that Israel may be left with no choice but to escalate military operations.
“Hamas doesn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die,” Trump said during a press conference outside the White House last Friday. “We got a lot of hostages out. Now we’re down to the final hostages, and they know what happens after that. Because of that, they really didn’t want to make a deal. They’re going to have to fight and clean it up—get rid of them.”
While the Trump administration has not officially confirmed its position on the potential annexation plan, sources cited by Haaretz suggest Netanyahu has received at least tacit approval to proceed if Hamas fails to accept the current ceasefire terms.
