Photo: MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP / Getty Images
Israel's security cabinet approved a plan to capture the entire Gaza Strip and relocate its population to the south. The decision, made on Sunday (May 4), aims to defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages. The plan, called "Gideon's Chariots," will be implemented after U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East next week, providing a potential window for a hostage deal.
The plan involves relocating Gaza's entire population southward and maintaining a military presence in captured areas. Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the plan as a move to "conquer" Gaza. He stated that once the military expands its operations, it will not withdraw, even if Hamas agrees to a hostage deal.
The plan has drawn international criticism, with concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis. The United Nations and aid organizations have opposed Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been in place for nine weeks. The blockade has exacerbated the humanitarian situation, with more than 52,000 Palestinians killed since the conflict began.
Israel plans to use private security firms to control aid distribution, bypassing Hamas. However, the U.N. and aid groups have rejected the plan, saying it violates humanitarian principles.
The conflict began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking hostages. Israel's offensive has displaced over 90 percent of Gaza's population, worsening the humanitarian crisis.