Israel’s security cabinet has unanimously approved a major expansion of its military operation in the Gaza Strip, confirming plans to assert full control over the territory and intensify efforts to dismantle Hamas. The renewed campaign follows directives from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will move forward after President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the region.
Netanyahu emphasized the twofold objective: “returning our hostages and defeating Hamas.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added, “From the moment the ground operation begins, there will be no withdrawal from the territories we have captured—not even in exchange for hostages. The only way to free the hostages is to defeat Hamas.”
The plan includes military occupation, denial of Hamas control over humanitarian aid, and pushing civilians southward. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed sending aid into Gaza, saying, “I don’t understand why we need to give them humanitarian aid. They have enough food there. We should bomb Hamas’s food storage facilities.” In contrast, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara insisted Israel has a legal obligation to allow aid into Gaza.
Defense officials stated that this marks one of the largest reserve call-ups since the war began. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told troops, “We are increasing the pressure with the goal of bringing our people back and defeating Hamas.” Over the weekend, Israeli forces destroyed multiple Hamas positions, including underground tunnels, and killed dozens of terrorists in Gaza.
The Hostage Families Forum condemned the strategy, stating, “The plan approved by the cabinet deserves to be called the ‘Smotrich-Netanyahu Plan’—a plan to abandon the hostages and forsake national and security resilience.” Despite criticism, Israeli leadership insists that increased military pressure is the only viable route to securing the release of captives and long-term peace.
Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer made the stakes clear: “There are people in Israel who say, forget about the hostages—just finish the war. Others say, forget about the war—just bring them home. We’re not going to do that. That’s not where Prime Minister Netanyahu is. It’s not where I am.”
