The Israeli security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has approved the gradual expansion of the offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. The Israeli military has already begun issuing thousands of calls to reserve forces to prepare for the next phase of operations.
This move follows the resumption of ground operations in Gaza in March after the failure of a U.S.-backed ceasefire. Israel’s goal is to increase pressure to return hostages and defeat Hamas. Netanyahu addressed the security cabinet after a rocket attack from Yemen by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia, which targeted Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
Additionally, Israel faces growing international pressure to lift the blockade on Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to flow into the region. Israel controls almost one-third of Gaza’s territory, and a new plan for distributing aid has been approved, though the specifics remain unclear.
