Israel may seize all Gaza in expanded operation, officials say

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that an intensified offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas would be “intensive” after his security cabinet endorsed plans that could involve taking over the Gaza Strip and managing aid.

An Israeli defense official, however, stated that the operation will not commence until U.S. President Donald Trump finishes his visit to the Middle East next week. The decision, following weeks of wavering attempts to establish a ceasefire with Hamas, highlights the danger that a conflict increasing global pressure on Israel, along with declining domestic support, might persist indefinitely.

A report from Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, referencing officials familiar with the specifics, indicated that the new strategy would be implemented gradually over months, concentrating initially on a single region of the war-torn enclave.

In a video message, Netanyahu stated that the operation would be “intensive” and would involve relocating more Palestinians in Gaza “for their own safety.”

He said Israeli troops would not follow previous tactics based on short raids by forces based outside Gaza. “The intention is the opposite,” he said, echoing comments from other Israeli officials who have said Israel would hold on to the ground it has seized.

U.S. representative Steve Witkoff stated that Israel is a sovereign nation that determines its own choices, as reported by Axios, which also mentioned his hopes for advances in a hostage and ceasefire agreement prior to or during Trump’s visit. The White House did not respond right away to a request for a comment.

Israeli forces have captured an area that constitutes about one-third of Gaza, resulting in the displacement of residents and the construction of watchtowers and observation posts on land the military terms as security zones, but the revised strategy would extend this effort.

An Israeli official stated that the recently sanctioned operation would take control of the entire Gaza Strip, push its civilian residents toward the south, and prevent humanitarian assistance from reaching Hamas. The defense official stated that the distribution of aid, currently managed by international aid organizations and U.N. agencies, will be passed to private firms and distributed in the southern region of Rafah once the offensive commences.

The Israeli military, which has demonstrated minimal interest in occupying Gaza during the conflict, chose not to respond to the statements made by government officials and politicians.

In March, Israel restarted its offensive following the breakdown of a U.S.-supported ceasefire that had paused hostilities for two months. Since then, it has enforced an aid blockade, prompting the UN to warn that the 2.3 million residents are at risk of imminent famine.

The defense official stated that Israel would retain security areas captured along the Gaza border, as these are crucial for safeguarding Israeli communities near the enclave. However, he mentioned there was a “window of opportunity” for an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages during Trump’s visit.

“If there is no hostage deal, Operation “Gideon Chariots” will begin with great intensity and will not stop until all its goals are achieved,” he said. Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi rejected what he called “pressure and blackmail”.