Israel's security cabinet unanimously approved an expansion of the military operation in the Gaza Strip early Monday morning, despite warnings from Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir that the move could endanger the lives of Israeli hostages.

According to Israeli media, the implementation of the decision will be postponed until after US President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, scheduled for ten days, giving the Israeli government time to arrange the necessary field and diplomatic measures.

In a notable move, the cabinet has approved in principle the outlines for future humanitarian aid distribution to Gaza residents, despite opposition from extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The plan indicates that this aid will not be provided immediately, but will be administered in the future through an international fund that ensures that none of it reaches Hamas. A date for the start of this plan has not yet been determined.

During the meeting, Ben-Gvir expressed his rejection of the aid, saying, "I don't understand why we need to feed them. They have enough there, and we have to bomb Hamas's warehouses."

In contrast, the Chief of Staff warned that such statements and policies could endanger the army. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented, saying, "Ministers are permitted to express positions that conflict with the army's assessments."

The closed-door cabinet meeting lasted for seven hours, with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar absent, being represented by his deputy. The meeting was devoted to reviewing military assessments and planning for expanding the scope of operations in Gaza, in addition to discussing the hostage situation and humanitarian aid.

At the conclusion of the session, the cabinet approved plans to intensify the fighting and expand the mobilization of reserve forces. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the forces to be called up will be divided into two groups: one will be tasked with offensive missions deep inside the Gaza Strip, while the other will replace the regular brigades that will participate directly in the new operation.

This process is expected to be one of the most sensitive phases since the outbreak of the war, given escalating regional tensions, foreign interventions, and conflicting priorities within the Israeli government itself.