Israel is preparing for a new phase of the war in the Gaza Strip, planning to expand its ground operation in the coming days. Bloomberg reports, citing sources in the Israeli government.
After a meeting of the Security Cabinet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the decision to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists and intensify the fighting in Gaza. The operation comes amid domestic and international pressure, as the war with Hamas has been going on for more than 18 months.
Israeli forces have already controlled one-third of the enclave since the resumption of hostilities after a two-month ceasefire that ended in March. At the same time, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, with Israel blocking the delivery of aid to more than two million residents.
The Hamas group still maintains control of the coastal strip and is holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are likely to be alive, who were captured during the attack on 7 October 2023.
Despite the calls for escalation by some in the coalition, public opinion in Israel is shifting towards compromise. According to Kan News, the majority of citizens support the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the end of the war.
On Monday, 28 April, a new round of talks between Israel and Hamas took place in Cairo with Egyptian mediation. Reuters reports that the parties are close to a breakthrough, although key differences remain. Other sources refute these optimistic predictions.
