Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to take full control of the Gaza Strip in a major new phase of its war against Hamas.
In a video posted on social media, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the new plan will involve seizure of additional areas of Gaza.
“One thing will be clear: there will be no in-and-out,” Netanyahu said. “We’ll call up reserves to come, hold territory — we’re not going to enter and then exit the area, only to carry out raids afterward. That’s not the plan. The intention is the opposite.”
According to Israeli media, the move is aimed at strengthening Israel’s position in negotiations with Hamas over a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Israel’s new plan, called Gideon’s Chariots, will also involve forced relocation of Gaza’s population to the south “for their own protection,” said Netanyahu.
Israel has halted all aid, including food and medicine to Gaza since March 2. The new plan permits the delivery of humanitarian aid only after civilians are relocated to southern Gaza and military operations begin. Under this arrangement, supplies would be distributed by private contractors through Israeli-controlled hubs.
A senior Israeli security official told BBC that Israel’s new plan would not be implemented until after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the region, scheduled for 13–16 May. The official described the delay as a “window of opportunity” for Hamas to agree to a hostage release deal.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to dismantle Hamas following an unprecedented cross-border assault in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others.
Since then, at least 52,567 people have been killed in Gaza, including 2,459 since the Israeli offensive resumed in March, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
