PARIS — Israel could face a wave of international sanctions after its security cabinet decided early Friday morning to move ahead with the takeover of Gaza City. The United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Australia and the United Nations condemned the decision. European Council President Antonio Costa warned that the move “must have consequences for EU-Israel relations, to be assessed by the council.”

But Germany, one of Israel’s closest strategic partners, went further, announcing it was suspending exports to Israel of arms that could be used in the Gaza Strip. About a third of Israel's arms imports from 2020 to 2024 came from Germany. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday that he had instructed the military to prepare for the takeover of Gaza City, an objective he said would advance the disarmament of Hamas. The cabinet gave a green light despite objections from Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, who warned ministers that such an operation would endanger the lives of hostages held in Gaza and could trigger a humanitarian disaster.

The development came amid growing public opposition within Israel to continuing the war. On Aug. 1, more than 600 former senior security chiefs and ambassadors sent an open letter to US President Donald Trump, asking him to pressure Netanyahu to end the conflict. Former Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff was among the signatories, along with former military chief Matan Vilnai, ex-Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, former Police Commissioner Assaf Hefetz and former Shin Bet Director Ami Ayalon.