Israel Approves Plan to Expand Military Offensive in Gaza

Image Credentials: Image Title: Israel Approves Plan to Expand Military Offensive in Gaza Source: (Grok, xAI) Date: May 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (Grok, xAI), and it does not depict a real-world scene.

Jerusalem — Israel’s security cabinet has unanimously approved a plan to escalate its military offensive against Hamas in Gaza, paving the way for a prolonged and expanded ground campaign. The move marks a significant shift in Israel’s approach, reportedly including the occupation and sustained presence in captured areas of the territory.

The decision comes as tens of thousands of Israeli reservists are being mobilized in anticipation of the next phase of operations. According to Israeli military officials, the campaign’s aim remains twofold: to bring home the remaining Israeli hostages and to dismantle Hamas’s military and governing infrastructure.

The expansion plan, however, will not be implemented before U.S. President Donald Trump’s expected visit to the region from May 13 to 16, officials said. During the interim, pressure is expected to mount for a new ceasefire and hostage release deal, with Israeli officials leaving the door open for diplomatic developments.

Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamid visited a naval base on Sunday to rally troops, confirming that the military was “increasing the pressure” and preparing to operate in additional areas of Gaza. “We will destroy all terrorist infrastructure – above and below ground,” he said.

The offensive resumed on March 18 following the end of a two-month ceasefire, and critics argue that the current strategy has failed to secure the release of any of the 59 remaining hostages. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum accused the government of prioritizing territorial conquest over saving lives, stating that the move “goes against the will of over 70% of the people” in Israel.

Meanwhile, the security cabinet also approved a controversial humanitarian aid plan that would allow private companies to resume deliveries to Gaza, breaking a blockade in place since early March. However, the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have condemned the proposed mechanism, calling it a violation of basic humanitarian principles.

The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), a coalition of UN agencies and NGOs, warned that the new plan “contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles” and could endanger both civilians and aid workers. The group criticized the use of aid distribution as a pressure tactic and raised concerns over pushing vulnerable civilians into militarized zones to retrieve supplies.

An Israeli official quoted in Haaretz explained that the expanded offensive would transition from “raid-based operations to the occupation of territory,” with a focus on establishing leverage for negotiations with Hamas. The first stage includes expanding the so-called buffer zone along Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt.

Despite claims from the Israeli government that they are complying with international law, humanitarian conditions in Gaza have continued to deteriorate. The UN says that nearly all of the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza are displaced and face severe shortages of food and medical aid.

The ongoing conflict was sparked by a deadly cross-border Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports that over 52,500 people have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes.

With international scrutiny mounting and humanitarian concerns growing, the next phase of Israel’s operation in Gaza is likely to intensify both military and political tensions in the region.