Israel’s Cabinet approved a new plan early Monday to seize full control of the Gaza Strip and remain in the territory for an indefinite period, according to two Israeli officials.
The vote came just hours after Israel’s military chief announced the mobilization of tens of thousands of reserve troops. Officials said the plan is aimed at dismantling Hamas and securing the release of hostages held in Gaza. It also calls for the relocation of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza.
A separate defense official said the operation would not begin until after U.S. President Trump completes an anticipated visit to the region later this month, suggesting the possibility of a temporary ceasefire beforehand.
The plan includes the full “capturing of the strip and the holding of territories,” and would attempt to cut Hamas off from distributing humanitarian aid. Israeli officials claim Hamas is diverting aid for its own purposes. Aid organizations and the U.N. reject that allegation, asserting that aid deliveries are tightly monitored.
Israel is reportedly in contact with several nations regarding Trump’s proposal to assume control over Gaza and relocate its population through what Israel has called “voluntary emigration.”
According to the defense official, the new strategy would separate Hamas from aid distribution by using private firms and designated Israeli-controlled zones. Palestinians would be screened before accessing aid.
A memo shared among humanitarian groups and obtained by The Associated Press details Israel’s intention to involve private security firms in aid operations. The U.N. said Sunday it would not participate in the plan, citing violations of its core principles. The memo, summarizing a recent meeting between U.N. representatives and Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), outlined that aid would enter exclusively through the Kerem Shalom crossing, with a reduced volume of about 60 trucks daily—down from 500 before the war.
It also revealed plans to use facial-recognition technology to identify aid recipients and deploy text alerts to inform civilians when and where to collect supplies.
