From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 5, 2025
Cabinet-approved plans include ‘conquering Gaza and holding territories,’ official says
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
The security cabinet last night unanimously approved the operational plan for the next phase of the campaign in the Gaza Strip, which would include the “conquering of Gaza and holding the territories,” says an Israeli official.
The plan presented by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir 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 security cabinet also approved overwhelmingly a plan to distribute humanitarian aid in Gaza “that would prevent Hamas from taking control of supplies and would destroy its governing capabilities.”
That plan will not yet be implemented, since the cabinet determined that there is currently enough food inside Gaza.
In the meeting, says the official, both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Zamir said that the plan would achieve both the defeat of Hamas and the freeing of the hostages.
Netanyahu told the forum that he is working to move forward on US President Donald Trump’s plan to allow Gazans to emigrate voluntarily, and that he is in discussions with a number of countries.
The Times of Israel Community.