Israel Expands Gaza Offensive: Plans Full Control and Aid Takeover Amid Global Criticism

Israel's Security Cabinet approved a military expansion in Gaza to seize full control, manage humanitarian aid, and relocate Palestinians southward. The plan, aimed at defeating Hamas and recovering hostages, has faced criticism from international bodies and Israeli opposition. The strategy includes bypassing international aid groups, using private contractors under military supervision, and has raised concerns about civilian suffering and international law violations. The decision follows a collapsed ceasefire and ongoing conflict, with over 52,000 Palestinian casualties reported since October 2023.

Cabinet Endorses Full-Scale Military Expansion

On Sunday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet approved a comprehensive military plan that includes the “conquest” and occupation of the Gaza Strip. According to Israeli officials cited by multiple outlets, the plan aims to dismantle Hamas’s governance and military infrastructure, recover hostages, and establish a sustained Israeli presence in the enclave.

The plan, proposed by Israeli military Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, involves calling up tens of thousands of reservists and expanding ground operations into new areas of Gaza. Zamir stated that the military would “operate in additional areas and destroy all terrorist infrastructure – above and below ground,” signaling a shift from targeted operations to full territorial control.

The first phase of the operation includes expanding the Israeli-designated buffer zone along Gaza’s borders with Israel and Egypt, giving Israeli forces greater operational depth. Officials have indicated that the campaign could last several months and may be adjusted depending on diplomatic developments, including a potential ceasefire or hostage deal before U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the region from May 13 to 16.

Humanitarian Aid Under Military Control

A central component of the new strategy is Israel’s plan to take over the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The cabinet approved a framework that would bypass international aid organizations, instead relying on private contractors and U.S. security firms to deliver food and supplies under Israeli military supervision.

Israeli soldiers would provide an “outer layer of security” for these contractors, who would operate from newly established “humanitarian zones” in southern Gaza. The stated goal is to prevent Hamas from diverting aid and to weaken its governance capabilities.

However, the plan has been met with fierce opposition from humanitarian organizations and the United Nations. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), which includes UN agencies, warned that the proposal violates core humanitarian principles of neutrality, independence, and impartiality. The HCT said the plan would force civilians into militarized zones to collect rations, endangering both aid workers and recipients.

“This contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles and appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic – as part of a military strategy,” the HCT said in a statement.

International and Domestic Backlash

The European Union expressed deep concern over the Israeli cabinet’s decision, warning that the expanded operations would lead to “further casualties and additional suffering for the Palestinian population.” EU officials urged Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza, restore electricity and critical services, and allow immediate access for humanitarian aid.

Hamas has rejected the Israeli aid plan, calling it “political blackmail” and accusing Israel of using humanitarian supplies as a weapon of war. “We reject the use of aid as a tool of political blackmail and support the UN’s stance against any arrangements that violate humanitarian principles,” the group said in a statement.

Inside Israel, the plan has sparked heated debate. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of those still held in Gaza, accused the government of prioritizing territorial conquest over the safe return of hostages. “This is against the will of over 70% of the people,” the group said.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the mobilization of reservists without a clear operational goal, while former general and opposition figure Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of using the offensive to preserve his political coalition. “This plan serves no security purpose and does not bring the release of the hostages closer,” Golan said.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply since Israel imposed a near-total blockade on March 2, halting all aid deliveries. According to the UN, the enclave’s 2.3 million residents face severe shortages of food, medicine, and clean water. Warehouses are empty, bakeries have shut down, and community kitchens are days away from running out of supplies.

Despite this, Israeli officials maintain that there is currently “enough food” in Gaza and have dismissed claims of famine. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly advocated for continuing the blockade and even bombing food warehouses and generators to cut off all remaining supplies and electricity. His remarks were rebuked by military officials, including Lt. Gen. Zamir, who warned that such actions would violate international law and endanger Israel’s global standing.

“You are endangering us all. There is international law, we are committed to it. We cannot starve the Strip,” Zamir reportedly told Ben-Gvir during the cabinet meeting.

Aid Groups Refuse to Cooperate

Major humanitarian organizations, including the UN and international NGOs, have refused to participate in Israel’s proposed aid distribution system. They argue that the plan undermines their ability to operate independently and safely, and that it would leave vulnerable populations—especially those with limited mobility—without access to life-saving assistance.

The UN has reiterated that Israel, as the occupying power, is obligated under international law to ensure the welfare of Gaza’s civilian population. Aid groups have called on world leaders to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and allow the delivery of “significant stocks” of aid currently waiting at border crossings.

Escalation Follows Collapse of Ceasefire

The expanded offensive follows the collapse of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in mid-March. Since then, Israeli forces have resumed bombardments and ground operations, reinforcing buffer zones and expanding control over much of northern and southern Gaza. According to local health authorities, more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023, the majority of them civilians.

The war was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. As of early May 2025, 59 hostages remain in captivity.

References

• Israel plans ‘conquest’ of Gaza in expanded offensive
• EU 'concerned' about Israel's plans to take over Gaza
• Israel to expand military operations in Gaza to establish ‘sustained presence’
• UN warns of growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza | Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
• Israeli cabinet said to approve expansion of Gaza offensive | | AW
• Israeli cabinet ministers approve plan to take over all of Gaza Strip
• Israel cabinet approves plan to 'capture' Gaza - official