Israel to ramp up ground operations in Gaza ahead of Trump's visit - Bloomberg
Photo: Israel considers operation as a chance to force Hamas to surrender (Getty Images)
Today, Israel's Security Cabinet is set to meet to approve the expansion of military operations in Gaza and discuss the delivery of humanitarian aid ahead of Donald Trump's upcoming visit to the Middle East, informs Bloomberg.
According to two Israeli officials, new ground operations will likely involve taking control of additional territories without resorting to a full siege.
A representative of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also stated that thousands of Israeli reserve soldiers received draft notices ahead of today's security cabinet meeting.
The Israeli government sees its latest operation in Gaza, which includes increasing troop numbers, along with US pressure on regional players ahead of Trump's visit, as a chance to force Hamas to surrender and possibly improve the chances of a ceasefire.
Additionally, the Netanyahu government was expected to discuss a new mechanism for distributing aid. According to a source, it is likely that non-Israeli private companies will be involved in distributing goods among the population in the designated humanitarian zone in southern Gaza. The entire zone will be controlled by the Israeli military, preventing Hamas from seizing the goods.
Currently, it is not expected that US President Donald Trump will visit Israel during his regional trip in mid-May. Instead, he will focus on Qatar — a key mediator between Israel and Hamas — as well as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Meanwhile, according to Axios, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will visit the Jewish state before the presidential tour and will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
High-level visits may indicate that the US has renewed its interest in Gaza and the broader region after several weeks in which the Trump administration was focused on nuclear talks with Iran and efforts to achieve a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
It remains unclear whether Trump will prioritize the Gaza conflict during regional negotiations. However, steps toward a ceasefire agreement, as reported by Bloomberg, would serve the stated goal of promoting regional stability.
As a reminder, since the temporary ceasefire ended 50 days ago, Israel has repeatedly warned of escalating action unless Hamas agrees to release hostages taken in October 2023. During this time, the IDF has seized about a third of Palestinian territory and suspended humanitarian aid deliveries.
