بلجيكا ترفض خطة السيطرة الكاملة على غزة

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxim Prevot summoned the Israeli ambassador due to the Netanyahu government's announced plan for complete control over Gaza and the region, amidst widespread international opposition.

The ministry stated in a statement today (Friday): "Belgium wanted to express its total rejection of this decision, and the continuation of the occupation... and the desire to annex the West Bank," and strongly called for a reversal of this decision.

The ministry added that after the official confirmation from the Israeli government of its intention to besiege the city of Gaza and then occupy it, and to militarily control the entire Gaza Strip, the Foreign Minister decided to summon the Israeli ambassador.

The office of the occupying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early Friday morning the approval of the security cabinet for the army's plan to take complete control of the city of Gaza in the northern part of the strip.

It stated that Israel will take charge of "distributing humanitarian aid outside the combat zones," and that the decision was made in support of Netanyahu's proposal to defeat Hamas.

Netanyahu's office added that the majority of council members approved a list of 5 demands to end the war in Gaza, according to the Israeli newspaper "Times of Israel."

Netanyahu's office mentioned that the five demands are: "Disarming Hamas, returning all 50 hostages, of whom only 20 are believed to be alive, turning Gaza into a demilitarized zone, Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip, and having a plan for an alternative government that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority."

Israel controls 75% of the area of the strip, and the city of Gaza is part of the remaining 25% that is not under Israeli control, in addition to several refugee camps in central Gaza. The Israeli newspaper revealed that the operation would require evacuating the city of Gaza of about 800,000 Palestinians.

American officials disclosed that images captured by commercial satellites showed the Israeli army gathering forces and equipment near the border with Gaza, to support a potential new ground operation in the Palestinian territory. The officials told NBC News that the images showing troop movements and formations are indicators of an imminent major ground operation.

American officials and a person familiar with the Israeli discussions indicated that if a new military operation is launched, it may include efforts to recover hostages held by Hamas and expand humanitarian aid in areas outside the combat zones.