Israeli military tanks and military vehicles are gathered near the border area of the Gaza Strip. Photo by Yonhap News
Local media reported on May 5 (local time) that the Israeli cabinet has approved plans to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip.
At a security cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the previous night, ministers unanimously approved this plan targeting the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The operational plan presented by Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi reportedly includes a proposal for the Israeli military to occupy and maintain control over territory in the Gaza Strip. It was also reported that Halevi expressed concerns that Israeli hostages held by Hamas could be put at risk if the fighting intensifies.
During the meeting, Netanyahu stated, "The military operation to be launched in the Gaza Strip will include military control over the area," adding, "Through this, we can achieve both war objectives: defeating Hamas and returning the hostages."
The security cabinet also approved a proposal to mobilize additional reservists needed for the new operation. As a result, the Israeli military is expected to begin expanding its operations in the Gaza Strip in earnest after increasing its troop numbers, likely sometime next week.
The security cabinet also approved a plan to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. This plan was designed with the intention of preventing Hamas from controlling supplies and thereby undermining its ability to govern. However, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is known for his far-right views, expressed opposition to this measure and instead reportedly argued that "Israel should bomb Hamas's food storage facilities."
The Israeli Hostages and Survivors Families Forum issued a statement strongly criticizing the cabinet's decision, calling it "a plan to abandon the hostages and the nation's security resilience," and stating, "This is a choice to prioritize territory over the hostages, against the will of the people."
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