Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to expand its military offensive against Hamas, which reportedly includes capturing Gaza and holding the territory.
The Israeli military has called up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for the move, saying it is “increasing the pressure” with the aim of bringing home the remaining Israeli hostages and defeating Hamas.
Reports indicate it will only be implemented after US President Donald Trump’s visit to the region next week.
The cabinet also reportedly approved, in principle, a plan to resume deliveries of humanitarian aid through private companies, which would end a two-month blockade that the UN says has caused severe food shortages.
The UN and other aid agencies have said the proposal would be a breach of basic humanitarian principles and that they will not co-operate.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet met on Sunday evening to discuss the Gaza offensive, which resumed when Israel ended a two-month ceasefire on 18 March.
Ministers voted unanimously to approve a gradual expansion of the ground operation over a period of several months, Israeli media said.
The first stage reportedly includes the seizure of additional areas of Gaza and the expansion of the Israeli-designated “buffer zone” running along the territory’s borders with Israel and Egypt, with the aim of giving Israel additional leverage in negotiations with Hamas on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal.
An Israeli official was cited by the Haaretz newspaper as saying that Netanyahu had said the expanded offensive “differed from previous ones in that it moves from raid-based operations to the occupation of territory and a sustained Israeli presence in Gaza”.
Security cabinet member Zeev Elkin told public broadcaster Kan that there was “still a window of opportunity” for a new hostage release before the end President Trump’s 13-16 May trip to the Middle East “if Hamas understands we are serious”.
During a visit to a naval base on Sunday, the Israeli military’s Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamid told special forces that tens of thousands of reservists were being called up “in order to strengthen and expand our operations in Gaza”.
“We are increasing the pressure with the aim of bringing our people home and defeating Hamas. We will operate in additional areas and destroy all terrorist infrastructure – above and below ground,” said.
However, critics say this is a failed strategy, as none of the 59 remaining hostages has been freed since the offensive resumed six weeks ago.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents hostages’ relatives, said the plan was an admission by the government that it was “choosing territories over the hostages” and that this was “against the will of over 70% of the people” in Israel.
An Israeli political source told AFP news agency that the security cabinet also approved “the possibility of a humanitarian distribution, if necessary, to prevent Hamas from taking control of the supplies and to destroy its governance capabilities”.
On Sunday, the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), a forum that includes UN agencies, said Israeli officials were seeking to “shut down the existing aid distribution system” and “have us agree to deliver supplies through Israeli hubs under conditions set by the Israeli military, once the government agrees to re-open crossings”.
The HCT warned that the plan would mean large parts of Gaza, including less mobile and most vulnerable people, would continue to go without supplies.
“It contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles and appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic – as part of a military strategy,” it said.
“It is dangerous, driving civilians into militarized zones to collect rations, threatening lives, including those of humanitarian workers, while further entrenching forced displacement.”
Israel cut off all deliveries of humanitarian aid and other supplies to Gaza aid on 2 March, two weeks before resuming its offensive.
The UN says Israel is obliged under international law to ensure supplies for the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza, almost all of whom have been displaced. Israel says it is complying with international law and there is no shortage of aid.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 52,535 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.