Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a security assessment on Friday before the start of Shabbos, at which a decision was made to significantly expand the military operaton in Gaza in light of the failure to reach a new hostage release deal with Hamas.

The plans do not include the conquest of the entire Strip, but rather a significant step up in military activity, with the hope that increased military pressure will create leverage for a hostage release deal.

The IDF is preparing to call up tens of thousands of reservists beginning on Sunday.

According to a Ynet report, half of the reservists will be deployed to the Gaza Strip and half will be sent to other fronts such as the northern border or Yehudah and Shomron to replace the regular brigades there, who will lead the new offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The plans are expected to be approved during a security cabinet meeting on Sunday.

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)