Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a truce to pull the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants.
Staunch Israeli ally Germany meanwhile took the extraordinary step of halting military exports out of concern they could be used in Gaza, a move Netanyahu slammed as a reward for Hamas.
Netanyahu in a post on X said “we are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas”.
Israel occupied Gaza from 1967, but withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005.
The plan triggered swift criticism from across the globe, with China, Turkey, Britain and numerous Arab governments issuing statements of concern.
Diplomatic sources told AFP that the UN Security Council will meet on Sunday to discuss the plan.
Announcing the suspension of military shipments to Israel, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it was “increasingly difficult to understand” how the new plan would help achieve legitimate aims.
The main campaign group for hostages’ families also slammed the plan, saying it amounted to “abandoning” the captives.
Out of 251 hostages captured during Hamas's 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the military says are dead.
Some Israelis, meanwhile, offered their support.
The Israeli army said last month that it controlled 75 percent of the Gaza Strip.
Gaza residents said they feared further displacement and attacks as they braced for the next onslaught.
Hamas on Friday said the “plans to occupy Gaza City and evacuate its residents constitutes a new war crime”.
International concern has been growing over the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, where a UN-backed assessment has warned that famine is unfolding.
Gaza's civil defence agency said a 19-year-old was seriously injured during the delivery of aid by an airdrop over Gaza City.
Bassal said Israeli strikes across Gaza on Friday killed at least 16 people.
Israel's offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry.
The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. - AFP
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