Netanyahu proposes to annex parts of Gaza

Netanyahu plans to pitch annexing Gaza areas to his cabinet, a move to appease Smotrich and preserve his coalition. The scheme, per Haaretz, gives Hamas days to accept a ceasefire or face gradual annexation, starting with buffer zones near Sderot and Ashkelon. “The process will continue gradually until the entire Strip is annexed,” Netanyahu told ministers.

The plan, reportedly greenlit by Trump’s administration, raises questions about U.S.-Israel collusion. Why does the White House, via Rubio, back a move defying international law? Smotrich, silent on increased Gaza aid, said, “We are promoting a good strategic move,” hinting at unspoken agendas. His threat to stay “for the time being” if annexation proceeds suggests political blackmail.

This follows Netanyahu’s reluctant aid increase, opposed by Smotrich’s Religious Zionism. Annexation threats, paired with ministers’ calls for Gaza settlements, risk global sanctions and Palestinian state recognition. Is Netanyahu sacrificing Gaza for power, with Trump’s blessing? The plan’s timing, post-France’s Palestinian recognition, suggests a calculated U.S.-Israel push to reshape the region, potentially at Palestine’s expense.