Israel’s war cabinet has approved a plan to expand its ongoing ground offensive in Gaza, signaling a shift toward full occupation of the territory already devastated by over 18 months of relentless bombardment.
According to international media reports, the Israeli cabinet has authorized a broader ground operation in Gaza, with thousands of reservists already called up to reinforce the military campaign.
Israeli officials confirmed to the media that the plan, proposed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and newly appointed Chief of Staff Gen. Ayal Zamir, was unanimously approved. The stated objectives are to defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages.
The plan includes the occupation and retention of large swathes of the Gaza Strip, which is expected to obstruct humanitarian aid distribution and subject the enclave to intensified attacks.
Israeli media reports indicate that this new phase of the campaign may continue for several months. The initial stage involves capturing additional territory and expanding the “buffer zone”—a move seen as strengthening Israel’s negotiating position regarding ceasefire talks and hostage returns.
The Israeli offensive began on October 7, 2023, following a cross-border Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 individuals. Since then, over 52,567 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including 2,459 since the resumption of Israeli strikes.
The Israeli military stated it is increasing pressure to return the hostages and defeat Hamas’s armed factions. However, critics argue that the latest escalation has failed to ensure the release of captives and has raised questions about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s broader objectives in the conflict.
Netanyahu has repeatedly denied accusations—often leveled by hostage families and opposition voices—that he is deliberately prolonging the war for political gain or sabotaging potential deals for hostage releases.
The IDF further announced that it will now expand its operations to new areas of Gaza, targeting both above-ground and underground Hamas infrastructure.
