Israel’s security cabinet has authorized a significant escalation of military operations in Gaza, including plans for the “conquest” of the territory, prompting an official statement regarding the potential relocation of its residents. This decision came just hours after the military revealed it would be mobilizing tens of thousands of reservists to intensify its offensive against Hamas in the region.
The plan outlines several objectives, including not only the military takeover of Gaza but also measures to ensure the safety of its residents by relocating them southward. The proposal is reportedly linked to an initiative championed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which suggests the voluntary evacuation of Gazans to neighboring nations such as Jordan or Egypt.
The cabinet, consisting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other key ministers, reportedly reached a unanimous agreement on the strategy aimed at defeating Hamas, which governs Gaza, and facilitating the return of hostages currently held within the territory. An official source indicated that the plan would involve “powerful strikes” against Hamas, though specific details regarding these operations were not disclosed.
In a statement released on Sunday, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the chief of the Israeli army, confirmed the mobilization of “tens of thousands” of reservists to reinforce military efforts in Gaza. The cabinet also acknowledged the potential for humanitarian aid distribution within the enclave, which has been under an Israeli blockade since March 2. While the cabinet stressed there is presently sufficient food in the area, humanitarian organizations and UN agencies have highlighted the severe consequences of the ongoing blockade faced by Gaza’s population of 2.4 million.
The official noted that the cabinet’s majority approval of the humanitarian aid initiative is designed to prevent Hamas from seizing control of the supplies and thereby undermining its governing authority. Israel’s military has ramped up aerial bombardments alongside ground operations in Gaza since it resumed its offensive on March 18, asserting that the blockade and escalated military action serve to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages.
The latest statistics indicate that militants in Gaza still hold 58 hostages taken during Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of at least 1,218 Israelis, predominantly civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has reportedly claimed the lives of approximately 52,535 individuals in Gaza, with civilian casualties constituting the majority of this figure, according to reports from the health ministry in the Hamas-led region.
