Israeli ministers approved a plan to capture all of Gaza and remain there – two officials say
Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to capture all of the Gaza strip and remain there for an unspecified amount of time, two officials said, AP reports.
The plan was approved today and is part of Israel’s efforts to increase pressure on Hamas to free hostages and negotiate a ceasefire on Israel’s terms.
The two officials said the plan also includes the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing military plans.
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The Houthi-run Saba news agency said the strikes included two on Arbaeen Street in the capital and the airport road, blaming them on “American aggression”. Saba said 16 people were wounded, citing the Houthi’s health ministry.
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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a tough response against the Houthis, as well as its main backer Iran, over the airport attack. On social media platform X, Netanyahu said Israel would also respond to Iran at “a time and place of our choosing”.
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Iran denied supporting the attack, calling it an “independent decision” by the Yemeni rebels taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
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An Israeli campaign group said that a new government plan for expanded military operations in Gaza is “sacrificing” hostages held in the Palestinian territory, AFP reports.
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“The plan approved by the cabinet deserves to be called the ‘Smotrich-Netanyahu Plan’ for sacrificing the hostages,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement on the plan adopted by Israel’s security cabinet.
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The reference was to far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to capture all of the Gaza Strip and remain there for an unspecified amount of time, two officials said, AP reports.
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The plan was approved today and is part of Israel’s efforts to increase pressure on Hamas to free hostages and negotiate a ceasefire on Israel’s terms.
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The two officials said the plan also includes the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing military plans.
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Israeli ministers on Monday agreed to ramp up the war against Hamas in Gaza, an official said.
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Associated Press reported Israel has plans to capture more territory in the beleaguered Palestinian territory and call up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.
\n The plan, which the official said would be gradual, could mark a significant escalation in the fighting in Gaza, which resumed in mid-March after Israel and Hamas failed to agree on an extension to an eight-week truce. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
\n On Sunday, Israel’s military chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers and said Israel would “operate in additional areas” in Gaza and continue to strike militant infrastructure.
\n Israel already controls roughly half of Gaza’s territory, including a buffer zone along the border with Israel as well as three corridors that run east-west along the strip. These have squeezed war-weary Palestinians into ever shrinking wedges of land in the devastated territory.
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We will bring you more developments as we have them.
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Key events
Israel’s expansion announcement has angered families of hostages still trapped in Gaza, AP reports.
The Hostage Forum, which supports families, said that the plan puts every hostage at risk and urged Israel’s decision-makers to secure a deal and prioritise the hostages.
At a Knesset committee meeting, Einav Zangaukererwhose son Matan is being held hostage, called on soldiers “not to report for reserve duty for moral and ethical reasons.”
The Israeli military said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers shortly before it emerged that Israeli ministers had approved a plan to potentially capture all of Gaza.
