Israel approved a plan to significantly broaden the military offensive against the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip late Sunday, even as the army chief reportedly warned ministers that this could endanger the hostages held there. The plan provides for the “conquering of Gaza” and retaining the territory, an Israeli official said Monday morning.

The security cabinet unanimously approved the plan to expand the Gaza operation, the official said. It is expected to only be implemented after US President Donald Trump’s visit to the region next week, and until then, efforts will continue to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas, Hebrew media reported.

The plan, which the official speaking Monday said had been presented by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, provides for the “conquering of Gaza and holding the territories.” The official said it will see the IDF take control of territory in Gaza, move the civilian population toward the south, attack Hamas, and prevent the terror group from taking control of humanitarian aid.

The plan is gradual and focuses at first on a certain, unspecified area within the Strip, before expanding to other places, the Kan public broadcaster reported Sunday, adding that the intense fighting was expected to go on for months.

Additionally, the Israeli official said, the security cabinet approved a proposal to renew aid deliveries into Gaza while overhauling the mechanism in order to minimize diversion of the goods by Hamas to benefit its operatives. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was the only one who voted against this proposal, which was to be implemented when the situation in Gaza necessitated it.

The aid delivery proposal, first reported by The Times of Israel on Friday, would entail the IDF transitioning away from wholesale distribution and warehousing of aid and instead have international organizations and private security contractors hand out boxes of food to individual Gazan families.

According to Israeli and Arab officials familiar with the matter, the IDF would not be directly involved in the distribution of aid, but troops would be tasked with providing an outer layer of security........

© The Times of Israel