Israel’s security Cabinet voted to intensify military operations in Gaza and call up of tens of thousands of extra reservists, while also deciding on a means of distributing aid in the Palestinian territory.

The vote in the early hours of Monday followed a long discussion and was unanimous regarding the expansion of armed activities in Gaza, according to an Israeli official with knowledge of the matter.

All members, except far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, also agreed that non-Israeli private companies should handle aid, though the security Cabinet is yet to end a block on such supplies. Israel implemented the ban in early March, saying it was necessary to put pressure on Hamas to surrender and release the hostages it still holds.

The decision comes a week before U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Gulf, his first scheduled foreign trip since returning to power in January. Trump — who will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates from May 13 — in late April pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to get more food and medicine into Gaza.

“Gaza came up and I said, ‘We’ve got to be good to Gaza,’” Trump said regarding a call with Netanyahu.

Much of the Mediterranean territory has been reduced to rubble since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023. The United Nations and other aid organizations say Palestinians are facing dire shortages of food, water and medicine. Israel’s said there is sufficient aid for at least another two weeks.

The new ground operations will likely involve taking control of additional territory beyond the roughly one-third Israel already controls, while stopping short of a full siege, according to other two Israeli officials. Israel recently changed strategy and is now keeping troops in areas cleared of militants. Previously, it pulled troops back, which often led to Hamas regrouping.

The planned maneuvers will require the Israeli military to call up “tens of thousands of reserve soldiers,” Eyal Zamir, the head of the Israeli military, said in Sunday. One official said to Bloomberg this would take up to two weeks, so fighting isn’t likely to scale up significantly until after Trump’s trip.

Since Israel ended a ceasefire in mid-March, it’s repeatedly threatened to intensify operations until Hamas agrees to lay down arms and release the remaining 59 hostages it holds, only around 24 of who Israeli intelligence thinks are alive.

US focus

Though Trump isn’t scheduled to travel to Israel, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will visit the Jewish state early next week and meet Netanyahu, Axios reported on Sunday.

Hegseth’s visit and Trump’s comments on Gaza could signal a renewed U.S. focus on the territory after several weeks in which the White House’s attention has been focused on tariff negotiations, nuclear talks with Iran and ending Russia’s war on Ukraine.

There’s no clarity on whether Trump will push for a new truce in Gaza. But such a move would be in line with his declared goal of stabilizing the Middle East. The president took credit for the ceasefire that ran from mid-January to March.

One Israeli official said the latest Gaza operations, including the increase in manpower, combined with Trump’s visit to the Gulf, may increase pressure on Hamas. Qatar, where Trump will fly to after Saudi Arabia, is a key mediator between Hamas and Israel.

Still, the gaps between Israel and Hamas — designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and many other countries — remain large.

Ceasefire talks have stalled for weeks, with Hamas refusing to discuss further releases of captives unless Israel agrees to end the war and pull its forces out of Gaza.

Hamas triggered the conflict when it invaded southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage. More than 51,000 people have been killed in Gaza following the start of Israel’s offensive, according to the Hamas-run health ministry there.

Houthi missile

Heavier fighting in Gaza will come as at least two other fronts flare up for Israel.

On Sunday, a Houthi missile hit an area close to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, prompting some international airlines to halt flights for at least a few days.

The Israeli military said it failed to take down the missile due to a “technical issue” with an interceptor launched by air defense systems. Netanyahu pledged to respond against the Houthis.

His government over the weekend also launched a series of attacks in Syria. Israel said it was a warning to new President Ahmed Al-Shaara following violent clashes between the Druze minority group and Syrian government forces that left at least 70 people dead.

The attacks were an extension of a wider offensive in Syria since the overthrow of long-time President Bashar Assad in December. That’s part of a shift in Israeli defense policy to one of more aggression beyond the country’s borders.

©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.