Israeli Security Cabinet Approves to Expand Gaza Ground Offensive
Israel’s security cabinet has approved a dramatic escalation of its military campaign in Gaza, endorsing a plan to capture and indefinitely occupy the entire territory.
The decision, made unanimously on Sunday, shifts Israel’s strategy from targeted raids to a sustained grip on seized areas, with officials admitting the operation could take months to unfold.
Aggressive Military Expansion
According to Israeli officials speaking anonymously, the new strategy involves permanently holding territories captured from Hamas, a stark departure from earlier withdrawals after raids.
With Israel already controlling roughly half of Gaza, the military has begun summoning tens of thousands of reservists to bolster the campaign.
Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said on Sunday:
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.
Eyal Zamir.
Critics argue this approach risks entrenching Israel in a prolonged and bloody conflict with no clear endgame.
The offensive follows the collapse of a U.S.-backed ceasefire in March, after which Israel imposed a suffocating blockade on all humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The blockade has triggered widespread hunger, looting, and a humanitarian catastrophe, displacing over 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and leaving them dependent on dwindling aid supplies.
Slim Hope for Diplomacy
The gradual rollout of the offensive may leave a narrow window for ceasefire talks, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to visit the Middle East from May 13-16.
Security cabinet minister Zeev Elkin told Kan:
There is still a window of opportunity until President Trump concludes his visit to the Middle East, if Hamas understands we are serious.
Zeev Elkin.
However, Hamas has firmly rejected Israel’s demands to disarm or abandon Gaza, insisting on a deal that halts the war and ensures a full Israeli withdrawal.
The ongoing conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack has since seen over 52,000 Palestinian killed, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
Humanitarian Outcry Over Aid Plan
Israel’s plan to resume aid deliveries through private security companies has sparked fierce international backlash.
The United Nations and aid groups have rejected the proposal, accusing Israel of militarizing humanitarian assistance to tighten its grip on Gaza.
Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, stated on X:
They want to manipulate and militarize all aid to civilians, forcing us to deliver supplies through hubs designed by the Israeli military, once the government agrees to re-open crossings. NRC will stand by our humanitarian principles and will, with all our peers, refuse to take part in this new scheme.
Jan Egeland.
The UN’s Humanitarian Country Team condemned the plan as a “pressure tactic” designed to control life-sustaining supplies, warning that it would leave vulnerable populations, including the elderly and disabled, without aid.
The blockade, in place since March, has deepened Gaza’s suffering, with reports of severe food shortages and forced displacement into militarized zones.
Global Criticism Mounts
The cabinet’s approval of “voluntary emigration” and private aid distribution has drawn sharp rebukes from Europe and Arab nations, who fear it will formalize the displacement of Palestinians into “de facto internment conditions.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of the 59 remaining hostages — up to 24 of whom may still be alive — criticized the government for prioritizing territorial gains over their loved ones’ safety, a view echoed by over 70% of Israelis in recent polls.
As Israel digs in for a prolonged occupation, humanitarian agencies and international mediators warn of a worsening crisis and fading prospects for peace.
The international community faces mounting pressure to address Israel’s actions, which many argue violate international law and threaten the lives of Gaza’s civilians.