The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, Hael Zamir, warned during the meeting that expanding operations could endanger the lives of Israeli detainees in Gaza.
The newspaper reported that the meeting witnessed a sharp disagreement between Zamir and the extremist Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who expressed his categorical rejection of the aid distribution proposal.
According to the newspaper, the approved proposal does not stipulate an immediate start to aid distribution, but rather relates to a future plan implemented through an international fund, with international organizations responsible for distributing aid within the Gaza Strip. The newspaper explained that the ministerial meeting lasted seven hours, with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar absent, represented by his deputy.
In the same context, Channel 12 reported that Chief of Staff Zamir categorically opposed the participation of IDF soldiers in distributing aid themselves. Citing sources, the channel reported that Zamir said during a security meeting last week that IDF soldiers "will secure the humanitarian areas and allow international organizations to distribute aid."
In this context, a source in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office told Channel 12 that "the plan approved by the government includes the complete occupation of the Gaza Strip."
New plan
Channel 12 reported that the Israeli occupation army has developed a new plan that includes strengthening its military presence inside the Gaza Strip with the aim of increasing pressure on the Palestinian resistance. According to the Hebrew channel, tens of thousands of reserve soldiers are expected to receive call-up orders in the coming days.
The plan, reported by the channel, calls for a large-scale evacuation of residents from the northern and central Gaza Strip, following the model implemented in Rafah, followed by control of these areas and a permanent presence there.
As part of the plan, several humanitarian zones will be established, similar to the one established in the southern Gaza Strip, between Morag Street and the Philadelphi Corridor. In these zones, food aid will be distributed through international companies or organizations.
Israeli officials told the channel that one of the lessons learned from the start of the war was that bringing in 600 food trucks daily, as had previously been the case, was a mistake.
The channel quoted security officials on Sunday evening as saying, "We are heading towards a major change in Gaza in the near future," noting that orders to call up reserves will be issued within 48 hours.
20 martyrs in continuous bombing
On the ground, the Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported that 20 citizens were killed early Monday morning as a result of Israeli airstrikes on various areas in the Gaza Strip.
WAFA quoted medical sources as saying that 15 people were killed and 10 others were injured in a bombing that targeted a number of apartments in the "Ramuz" building near the Karama Junction, northwest of Gaza City. Four others were killed and five others were injured in a bombing that targeted the home of the Al-Attar family in the Al-Sultan neighborhood, north of the Strip.
In eastern Jabalia, a citizen was killed and others were injured when an Israeli drone targeted a group of civilians.
The occupation forces continue their systematic destruction of civilian homes in the Gaza Strip. According to the WAFA news agency, Israeli forces blew up residential buildings in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, and a number of civilian homes east of Gaza City.
For its part, the Ministry of Health in Gaza warned that hospitals are at risk of shutting down within days due to the ban on fuel imports. The ministry confirmed that the currently available quantities are not sufficient for more than three days, adding that the occupation is preventing international and UN organizations from accessing fuel storage sites "on the pretext that they are located in red zones."
The ministry stressed that "obstructing fuel supplies to hospitals threatens to bring them to a complete standstill, given their reliance on generators to operate vital departments."
In early March, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel concluded. The agreement, which went into effect on January 19, was brokered by Egypt and Qatar and supervised by the United States.
While Hamas has adhered to the terms of the first phase, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, has shied away from initiating the second phase in deference to extremists in his ruling coalition, according to Hebrew media.