Overview
- Israel’s Security Cabinet met on August 7 to consider a plan for full Gaza Strip occupation followed by transfer of authority to a non-Hamas civilian government.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu confirmed that the government aims to assume complete control of Gaza and hand governance to a vetted civilian administration.
- Opposition leader Yair Lapid and IDF Chief Eyal Zamir cautioned that expanding the operation could imperil the roughly 20 hostages still held in Gaza and expose soldiers to lethal risks.
- Lebanon’s Cabinet scheduled a vote on disarming the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in accordance with UN Resolution 1701 under pressure from U.S. diplomats.
- Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem rejected any attempt at unilateral disarmament without a prerequisite Israeli withdrawal and halt of cross-border strikes.