Israel’s security cabinet approves to expand the gas offensive

Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to expand its military offensive against Hamas, which, according to reports, involves capturing gas and detention on the territory.

The Israeli military called tens of thousands of reservists in the preparation for the move, stating that an “increase of pressure” in order to bring home the rest of the Israeli hostages and to defeat Hamas.

The reports show that this will only be applied after the visit of US President Donald Trump to the region next week.

The cabinet has also been reported to approve a plan for the resumption of supplies of humanitarian aid through private companies, which will end a two -month blockade, which the UN says it has caused severe food shortages.

The UN and other assistance agencies said the proposal would be a violation of the basic humanitarian principles and that they would not cooperate.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet met on Sunday night to discuss the Gaza offensive, which resumed when Israel ended a two -month end of fire on March 18.

The ministers have unanimously voted to gradually approve the expansion of the ground operation for a period of several months, the Israeli media said.

The first stage has been reported to include the seizure of additional gas areas and the expansion of the Israeli Buffer Zone, which is moving along the borders of Israel and Egypt, in order to give Israel an additional lever in negotiations with Hamas for a new transaction to end fire and oversight.

The Israeli official was quoted by the Haarets newspaper, which says Netanyahu said the extended offensive “is different from the previous ones as it is moving from raid -based operations to the occupation of the territory and a sustainable Israeli presence in Gaza.”

The member of the security cabinet Zev Elkien told public television operator Kan that there was a “still -release window” for a new hostage release before Trump’s end president dealt with the Middle East, “if Hamas realizes we are serious.”

During a visit to the Naval Base on Sunday, the Chief of the Israeli Headquarters of the Gen. Aal Stam Laul told special forces that tens of thousands of reservists were called “to strengthen and expand our operations in Gaza.”

“We are increasing the pressure in order to bring our people home and beat Hamas. We will work in additional areas and destroy the entire terrorist infrastructure – above and underground,” he said.

Critics, however, say this was a failed strategy as none of the other hostages were released as the offensive resumed six weeks ago.

The hostage and missing families forum, who represent the hostage relatives, said the plan was recognized by the government that “choosing territories over the hostages” and that it was “against the will of over 70% of people” in Israel.

An Israeli political source told the AFP news agency that the security cabinet also approved “the possibility of a humanitarian distribution, if necessary, from preventing Hamas from taking control of supplies and destroying its management abilities.”

On Sunday, the humanitarian team (HCT), a forum that includes UN agencies, said Israeli officials strive to “exclude the existing aid distribution system” and “agree to deliver supplies through Israeli centers under the conditions set by Israeli military after the government agrees to open the intersections.

The NCT warned that the plan would mean large parts of gas, including less mobile and most vulnerable people, would continue to go without delivery.

“It contradicts the basic humanitarian principles and seems intended to strengthen life-supporting objects such as pressure tactics, such as a part of a military strategy,” the statement said.

“It is dangerous, driving civilians in militarized areas to collect rations threatening life, including those of humanitarian workers, while at the same time the more reinforcement of forced displacement.”

Israel cut all the supplies of humanitarian aid and other supplies to assist the gas on March 2, two weeks before the resumption of its offensive.

The UN claims that Israel is obliged by international law to provide supplies to 2.1 million Palestinians to Gaza, almost all of whom are displaced. Israel says he is in charge of international law and has no shortage of help.

The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross -border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and 251 others were taken hostage.

Since then, at least 52,535 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the territory.