The IDF's renewed operation in the Gaza Strip will include military control of the area, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during the security cabinet late Sunday night.
The plan is also set to include the holding of territory, the movement of Gazans southwards, and denying Hamas's ability to distribute humanitarian aid.
Netanyahu also noted the plan would allow both war goals to be achieved, defeating Hamas and the return of the hostages.
During the meeting, the cabinet unanimously approved expanding the IDF's operations in Gaza.
The new phase of fighting is expected to begin only after US President Donald Trump's visit to the region next week, due to the mobilization of reservists and other reasons.
Cabinet ministers told The Jerusalem Post that the current plan was better than previous ones.
The Hostage Families Forum criticized the plan on Monday shortly after the announcement. "The plan approved by the cabinet deserves to be called the 'Smotrich-Netanyahu Plan' - a plan to abandon the hostages and forsake national and security resilience," the forum noted.
"This morning, the government admits that it is choosing territory over hostages, contrary to the will of over 70% of the public," the forum added.
During the meeting, the government also approved the entrance of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its future distribution by a civilian company.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, while at a conference, defended the cabinet's decision.
"From the moment the ground operation begins, there will be no withdrawal from the territories we have captured - not even in exchange for hostages. The only way to free the hostages is to defeat Hamas," Smotrich said.
"Any withdrawal will bring about the next October 7. The IDF will make it clear to Hamas that harming the hostages will come at a heavy price."
New Hope-United Right MK Ze’ev Elkin said, “Defeating Hamas does not contradict the release of the hostages—on the contrary, only when Hamas is under pressure does it agree to deals.”
Opposition head and Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid remarked, "During wartime, the government can come to its citizens and ask them to tighten their belts — but only on one condition: that it does so itself. That it cuts its own expenses as well. That is not what's happening.
"They have no right. A government that doesn't touch the funds for draft dodgers and political cronies has no right to demand that its citizens pay more and more, to make more and more sacrifices. Israel’s middle class can’t take it anymore. It’s tired of being suckered. Tired of being exploited," he concluded.
Ben-Gvir opposes entrance of humanitarian aid to Gaza
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed the motion. During the cabinet, Ben-Gvir said, "I don't understand why we need to give them humanitarian aid. They have enough food there. We should bomb Hamas's food storage facilities."
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir responded, saying, "These ideas put us at risk."
Ben-Gvir responded to Zamir, stating that "we have no legal obligation to provide food. Those you're fighting have enough to eat."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Zamir that "ministers are allowed to express views that differ from those of military officers."
Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara also said that under the law, Israel is obligated to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The cabinet secretary responded to the attorney-general, stating, "For the sake of clarity, no minister has proposed starving them."
Baharav-Miara responded, "I didn't say that."