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Israel’s Security Cabinet has unanimously approved a new military plan to seize full control of the Gaza Strip, signaling a dramatic escalation in the war against Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the decision late Sunday, describing the upcoming operation as “intensive” and “powerful,” with the objective of permanently defeating Hamas.
“We will not enter and retreat. We will stay in every area we secure,” Netanyahu declared in a video posted to social media. “This is the only way to ensure that Hamas does not return.”
According to Netanyahu, the decision followed recommendations from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. The military has already mobilized tens of thousands of reservists to support the expanded operation. Zamir stated, “We are increasing the pressure to return our men and defeat Hamas. Troops will operate in additional areas and destroy all infrastructure above and below ground.”
While the IDF prepares for its next phase, Gaza remains under a complete blockade for the third consecutive month. No food, fuel, or medical supplies have entered the besieged enclave since the last ceasefire collapsed in mid-March. The United Nations has condemned Israel’s proposed aid plan as “dangerous,” warning it would deny critical supplies to large parts of the civilian population.
“This is a strategy of control through deprivation,” a U.N. spokesperson said Sunday, rejecting Israel’s proposed distribution plan that relies on military-managed “hubs.”
More than 51,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The offensive has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, crippled its health care system, and displaced most of its 2.3 million residents — many multiple times. The UN’s refugee agency, UNRWA, says nearly half a million have been newly displaced in recent weeks alone.
A senior Israeli security official said Monday that humanitarian aid would not resume until after a mass evacuation of civilians and the start of the “operational phase.” They emphasized that Israeli forces would remain indefinitely in secured areas to prevent “the return of terror.”
Meanwhile, families of the 59 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza issued a stark warning. “The expansion of military operations puts every hostage at grave risk,” the Hostages Families Forum said in a statement. “It also threatens the lives of our soldiers and deepens the toll on countless Israeli families.”
Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of around 250 others. A ceasefire agreement briefly paused fighting in early 2024, but negotiations over a permanent truce and full hostage release have stalled.
Israeli Minister Ze’ev Elkin suggested Monday that talks could resume before a planned visit to the region by former President Donald Trump. “There is still a window of opportunity… if Hamas understands we are serious,” Elkin told Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster.
Trump has voiced full support for Netanyahu and has proposed controversial post-war plans for Gaza. In April, he reiterated that the U.S. should take ownership of Gaza and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
“Gaza is an incredible piece of real estate,” Trump said. “U.S. control would be a good thing.”
