Tel Aviv [Israel], May 4: Reuters reported on May 2 that the Israeli security cabinet has approved a plan to expand operations in the Gaza Strip amid the failure to reach a new ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
With the expansion plan, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will mobilize several reserve brigades with a total strength of tens of thousands of soldiers. The Israeli cabinet is expected to hold a meeting on May 4 to approve the plan.
According to The Times of Israel , the plan to expand the attack is not the final option because the Israeli side is said to want to spend more time on hostage negotiations. In another development, the US, Israel and representatives of a new international organization are close to reaching an agreement on how to resume humanitarian aid operations in Gaza without being controlled by Hamas , according to Axios , citing two sources familiar with the matter.
The International Committee of the Red Cross warned: "The humanitarian response in Gaza is on the brink of total collapse. Without immediate action, Gaza will continue to descend into chaos and humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate the damage."
Also in the Middle East, the US State Department has approved a deal to sell AIM-120C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and related support equipment to Saudi Arabia for $3.5 billion, the Pentagon announced on May 2.
According to Reuters, the US is also about to provide Saudi Arabia with another arms package worth more than $100 billion during US President Donald Trump's visit to the kingdom in May.
Earlier, Reuters on April 26 quoted multiple sources as saying that the proposal was being prepared to be announced during US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia in May. Two of the sources said that US defense giant Lockheed Martin could provide many advanced weapons systems, including transport aircraft.
Four other sources revealed that RTX Corp (formerly Raytheon Technologies) will also play a key role in this bid.
All sources requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The proposal comes after the administration of former President Joe Biden failed to finalize a defense agreement with Riyadh - part of a broader deal to push Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
