Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday confirmed plans for a more “intensive” military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as his government approved a strategy that may ultimately involve full seizure and occupation of the territory.
The move, endorsed unanimously by Israel’s security cabinet, includes the mobilisation of reservists and shifting control of humanitarian aid into the hands of the Israeli military.
Netanyahu said in a video message that the expanded offensive would involve prolonged ground operations. "The intention is the opposite" of previous tactics, he said, referring to short raids from outside the enclave. He added that more civilians in Gaza would be moved "for their own safety".
According to a report from Israeli public broadcaster Kan, the newly approved strategy will unfold gradually, potentially over several months, beginning with military operations in a specific region of the enclave.
An Israeli defence official noted that operations would not escalate further until after United States President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to the Middle East next week.
Israel has already taken control of around one-third of Gaza, displacing large sections of the population and establishing surveillance infrastructure. The latest plans would push deeper, as Israel grapples with both domestic political pressure and the logistical burden of a prolonged occupation.
The offensive resumed in March following the collapse of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that temporarily paused the fighting. Since then, Israel has tightened its aid blockade, prompting UN warnings of imminent famine among Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
While Israel has yet to clarify its post-war governance strategy for Gaza, ministers have criticised international organisations, accusing them of allowing Hamas to intercept humanitarian supplies.
Meanwhile, the country faces mounting regional security concerns, including a missile launched by Iran-aligned Houthis that landed near Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, instability in Syria, and unrest in the occupied West Bank - all complicating Israel’s capacity to sustain military operations in Gaza.
