Israel's Security Cabinet on Thursday approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to "take control" of Gaza City and the surrounding areas, drawing swift and widespread condemnation from the international community and fueling concerns over an already dire humanitarian crisis.

In his first public comments since the security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu worte on X on Friday stressing that Israel is not going to occupy Gaza but aims to "free Gaza from Hamas."

"We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas. Gaza will be demilitarized, and a peaceful civilian administration will be established, one that is not the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, and not any other terrorist organization. This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future," he wrote.

Axios news reporter Barak Ravid, who first reported the security cabinet’s approval of the plan, quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying the operation will involve the forced displacement of "all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City to the central camps and other areas by October 7."

"A siege will be imposed on the Hamas militants who remain in Gaza City, and at the same time, a ground offensive will be carried out in Gaza City," Ravid wrote on X, citing the official.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Friday denounced Israel's move as a "dangerous escalation," stressing that "Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State."

He urged Israel to abandon the plan and called on all parties to return to negotiations grounded in a two-state solution.

The UN Security Council is also set to convene an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss the development, while senior UN human rights officials have warned that the operation risks inflicting further suffering on civilians and undermining prospects for peace.

European leaders have also voiced strong opposition. European Council President Antonio Costa called on Israel on Friday to reverse the decision, warning on social media platform X that the move would have consequences for EU-Israel relations, which the Council will assess.

Germany announced the suspension of all arms exports that could be used in Gaza, citing the lack of clarity on Israel's objectives and the high humanitarian risks involved.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the decision would do nothing to end the conflict or secure the release of hostages, urging a surge in aid and renewed efforts toward a two-state solution.

France condemned "in the strongest terms" the plan to militarily control the entire Gaza Strip, reiterating its opposition to any occupation or forced displacement.

Lithuania's Foreign Ministry warned the decision would worsen conditions in the Gaza Strip and said it was working with other EU members for a coordinated response.

Meanwhile, Sweden warned that any annexation or reduction of Gaza's territory would violate international law, while Austria expressed deep concern for civilians and hostages, Portugal urged suspending the plan alongside hostage releases and urgent aid delivery, and Slovenia condemned the move, calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire.

Within Israel, criticism of the operation is mounting. Opposition leader Yair Lapid and families of hostages still believed to be held in Gaza have warned that the move could endanger the captives' lives and hinder ongoing mediation efforts. Some former military officials have questioned both the feasibility and strategic value of such a large-scale occupation.

The plan will "take months, lead to the death of the hostages, the killing of many soldiers, cost tens of billions to the Israeli taxpayers, and lead to a political collapse," Lapid wrote in a post on X.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned of looming famine in Gaza, where over one million people have been displaced, and local health authorities report tens of thousands of casualties.