The Israeli plan to occupy Gaza City – and potentially all of the Gaza Strip – has created a huge backlash around the world. One regional expert has told CGTN that what Israel is trying to do is "impossible" – as well as extremely divisive, both at home and abroad. 

"The Israelis are now making something that's quite a historic shift," said Samuel Ramani, Associate Fellow at RUSI think tank and CEO of Pangea Geopolitical Risk, "completely overriding their withdrawal of settlements from 2005.

"The long-term aim is to make sure that Gaza will never pose a military threat again, that Hamas cannot make a resurgence," Ramani said. "The big problem is, it's really next to impossible to eradicate Hamas militants who have elaborate tunnel infrastructures, and also even harder to find and track groups where there's no diplomatic engagement with even the mediators."

Many politicians and commentators have questioned not just the ethics but also the logistics of what to do with the displaced Gazans, and Ramani said he sees no clear answer either. 

"The big question is, while this is happening, where are these people going to go? Egypt doesn't want to take in large numbers of Palestinian refugees across their border – and neither does Jordan, even though it's got a majority Palestinian population. So these people are basically stuck in limbo and they may have nowhere to go."

Ramani said the controversial move could also cost Israel politically, in terms of "soft power" regionally and political friendships globally. 

"There's been a rush from the Western allies, particularly the European allies of Israel, to condemn this move," he said. "We've seen some strong statements from Britain and Germany and Netherlands and I think Denmark and France and Canada. 

"Israel's also losing even more soft power and credence in the Arab world, with Saudi Arabia leading the way for an Arab opposition to the displacement of Palestinians."

Divisive abroad – and at home

Perhaps most crucially, Ramani said he notes a lack of strong backing from the U.S. – traditionally Israel's greatest ally. He noted a marked change from February, when U.S. President Donald Trump stood alongside Netanyahu and publicly backed the 'Gaza Riviera' plan to evacuate Palestinians before redeveloping the Strip. 

"Even though Trump has gone along historically with things like the Gaza Riviera, which would imply the displacement of large numbers of people from Gaza, [he] doesn't seem to be fully behind this plan. I don't think the United States has fully endorsed this plan. 

"That may be because Steve Witkoff is frustrated with it, because Witkoff has been trying to get a deal with Hamas by dealing with the Qatari mediation team on the release of the hostages, and just really basically puts that to a dead stop." 

Furthermore, Ramani said the move risks splintering Netanyahu's support even within his own country.

"Inside Israel, it may even be a problem too, because it risks the lives of the hostages, the 20 who are surviving. And so the far right is in support of this, but many Israelis aren't. There's strong Arab and European opposition, and the U.S. isn't fully on board."