Israel has sanctioned a new strategy to significantly intensify its military campaign against Hamas — aiming to take control of the entire Gaza and govern its territories, officials announced on Monday.
In an early morning vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet approved these updated military strategies just hours after the Israeli military leader revealed plans to call up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers to confront the militant group.
The plan would be gradual and take months, and involves powerful strikes against Hamas targets.
For weeks, Israel has been trying to ratchet up pressure on Hamas after high-profile ceasefire talks collapsed in mid-March.
The specifics of these plans were highlighted as Israel’s IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir informed troops earlier Sunday that the nation was escalating its activities in the Palestinian territory, as reported by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.
“This week, we are issuing tens of thousands of call-up orders to our reservists in order to intensify and expand our operation in Gaza,” Zamir said.
“We are increasing the pressure with the goal of bringing our people back and defeating Hamas. We will operate in additional areas and destroy all infrastructure above and below ground.”
The new offensive plan could leave the door open for a ceasefire and hostage release deal talks ahead of President Trump’s visit to the region next week, Security Cabinet Minister Zeev Elkin said.
“There is still a window of opportunity until President Trump concludes his visit to the Middle East, if Hamas understands we are serious,” Elkin told the outlet.
Already in control of roughly a third of Gaza’s territory, Israel resumed ground operations in March after the collapse of the US-backed ceasefire that had halted fighting for two months.
Israel has since imposed a total blockade of aid into the region.
Elkin said that rather than launching raids in specific areas and then leaving them, Israeli forces will now hold the territories they seize — until Hamas is defeated or agrees to disarm and leave Gaza.
With Post wires
