Israel's Security Cabinet approves IDF plans to expand operation in Gaza

The Security Cabinet has unanimously approved the plans of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to expand the ground operation in the Gaza Strip. This was announced on Monday, May 5, by Axios journalist Barak Ravid.

"Israeli officials have stated that the operation is expected to continue only after the President [of the United States Donald] Trump will end his trip to the Middle East," the journalist wrote on his Facebook page. Twitter).

Ravid added that until then, efforts to achieve a ceasefire will continue.

Trump's trip will last two more weeks.

Capture: Netanyahu and Trump discuss the fate of hostages in Gaza

Hamas published a video with Maxim Kharkin, a native of Donbass.

Earlier, on May 3, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed with Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir the expansion of hostilities in the Gaza Strip. The fighting in Gaza will expand again "unless Hamas agrees to a last-minute deal and releases the hostages."

On April 17, Hamas leader Khalil al-Haya declared his readiness for immediate negotiations with the Israeli side on a cease-fire and the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. At the same time, he called Tel Aviv's demands for the disarmament of radicals impossible.

Netanyahu, in turn, said on April 19 that his country would not stop the war in the Gaza Strip until it destroyed Hamas and returned all the hostages. According to him, the radical movement demands an end to the war, the preservation of its power and the restoration of Gaza with the involvement of capital, which will allow it to rearm and prepare new attacks on Israelis in the future.