Tel Aviv: The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation reported on Monday that the security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has approved a gradual expansion of the offensive on the Gaza Strip.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the decision followed an announcement by Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir that the army had started issuing tens of thousands of call-ups to reserve forces to bolster the military campaign in Gaza. This strategic move signifies an escalation in the ongoing conflict.

In a video message on the X platform, which came shortly after a missile from the Houthi group in Yemen landed near Israel’s main Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu indicated that a security cabinet meeting would be convened to deliberate on the “next stage” of the war in Gaza. This development marks a significant shift in Israel’s military strategy in the region.

Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza in March after a US-backed ceasefire, which had paused the conflict for two months, collapsed. Currently, Israel controls nearly a third of the Gaza Strip but faces mounting international pressure to allow the entry of aid, which has been blocked since March.