Israeli cabinet approves expansion of Gaza offensive: Reports
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet have approved an expansion of the offensive in Gaza, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan, putting into question the lifting of the two-month blockade in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Earlier, Netanyahu promised in a video posted on Telegram that Israel will have “complete victory” in Gaza, adding that Israel will end its military operation “decisively”.
The Times of Israel also said the cabinet had approved plans for an expanded ground invasion, but said it would not begin until after Trump’s upcoming travels to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which will take place from May 13 to 16.
The Times of Israel says Israel’s war cabinet has also approved plans that would see Israel try to change how aid is delivered in Gaza, alongside expanding its ground invasion.
Citing an unnamed Israeli official, The Times of Israel said the plan would involve “international organisations and private security contractors [handing] out boxes of food to individual” families in Gaza.
Israeli soldiers would provide “an outer layer of security for the private contractors and international organisations handing out the assistance”, The Times of Israel said.
As we reported earlier, a coordinating group of UN and other humanitarian organisations issued a statement rejecting a “dangerous” Israeli plan that had been presented to them, which proposed “driving civilians into militarised zones to collect rations”.
Israeli opposition leader questions mobilisation of thousands of reservists
In an interview with the Israeli Army Radio, Yair Lapid has questioned Netanyahu’s decision to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists. He said Netanyahu is calling up troops and extending their service without setting a goal for the operation.
Earlier, it was reported that the Israeli military was issuing call-up notices to thousands of reservists to support an “expansion” of its offensive in Gaza.
According to the Israeli media, the reservists will be deployed to Israel’s border with Lebanon and in the occupied West Bank, replacing regular soldiers who will lead a new offensive in Gaza.
Israeli general warns expansion of Gaza operation ‘will cost us blood’
In a statement posted on X, Yair Golan, major-general of Israel’s army reserve, says the decision to expand military operations in Gaza was made “not to maintain Israel’s security, but to save Netanyahu and the extremist government”.
Golan, who also serves as leader of the opposition Democrats party, said the Israeli military’s only role is to “protect the citizens of Israel, not serve political goals”.
“The actual occupation of the Strip in the name of ‘government survival’ will cost us blood – in the lives of the captives, in the lives of male and female soldiers, in exhaustion, and most importantly: in losing our way,” he said.
