Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with his security cabinet on Sunday to discuss the next phase of the Gaza offensive and potential resumption of aid to the besieged enclave, two government officials confirmed.
In a video message posted on X, Netanyahu said the meeting would focus on “the next stage” of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, coming hours after a missile launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia from Yemen fell near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. It remains unclear whether the ministers will approve any new measures, but the Israeli military has already initiated the call-up of tens of thousands of reserve forces in anticipation of expanding the Gaza campaign.
Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the IDF’s chief, told troops that Israel is increasing pressure on Gaza with the goal of returning hostages and defeating Hamas. “We are intensifying efforts to bring our people back and defeat Hamas,” Zamir said, according to an army statement.
Israel has controlled almost a third of Gaza’s territory and has been under growing international pressure to lift the aid blockade imposed in March following the collapse of a U.S.-backed ceasefire that lasted two months. Ministers have defended the blockade, alleging that Hamas diverted aid meant for civilians, though Hamas has denied these claims. Meanwhile, warnings of famine in Gaza have grown as supplies continue to dwindle.
Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that a new aid distribution plan is in development. Aid will be distributed by private foreign companies rather than U.N. agencies in a newly designated humanitarian zone in Rafah, southern Gaza. Civilians will be relocated to this zone after security checks, according to officials.
The aid issue has divided Israel’s leadership and military. While some politicians advocate for Israel to permanently control Gaza and distribute aid directly, military leaders, including Zamir, have opposed this approach. Zamir reaffirmed that Israeli troops would not distribute aid, despite pressure from hardliners such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has called for a more aggressive strategy.
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and saw the abduction of 251 hostages. The conflict has resulted in over 52,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities, and left Gaza in ruins, with its 2.3 million residents relying heavily on dwindling aid supplies since the blockade.