A senior defense official said on Monday afternoon that the IDF will begin preparing for the expanded military operation in Gaza but will not launch it until after US President Donald Trump concludes his visit to the Middle East.

Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the US from May 13-16.

The new operation has been named Operation Gideon’s Chariots.

“Operation Gideon’s  Chariots, with the goal of defeating Hamas in Gaza and the release of all hostages, was unanimously approved by the security cabinet,” the official told the press.

He added that a “key part of the plan is the evacuation of the entire Gazan population from combat zones, including from northern Gaza, to southern Gaza, while differentiating between civilians and Hamas terrorists, in order to allow the IDF operational freedom of action.”

“Unlike in the past, the IDF will remain in any area it captures to prevent the return of terrorism, and will operate in each cleared area according to the Rafah model, where all threats were neutralized and the area became part of the security buffer zone.”

He added that Israel will bring humanitarian aid into Gaza “after the start of operational activity and a large-scale evacuation of civilians to the south. A humanitarian plan will be implemented, as presented yesterday by the IDF and approved by the cabinet, by using civilian companies and designating areas that will be secured by the IDF. This includes a sterile zone in the Rafah area beyond the Morag route, where entrants will be screened by the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives from gaining access.”

“The military’s preparations ahead of the ground operation will create a window of opportunity—until the end of the U.S. President’s visit—for a hostage deal under the ‘Witkoff model.’”

“In such a case, Israel will seek to retain territory that has been cleared and incorporated into the buffer zone beyond the March lines. Under any temporary or permanent arrangement, Israel will not withdraw from the security buffer zone around Gaza, which is intended to protect Israeli communities and prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas.”

“If no hostage deal is reached, Operation Gideon’s Chariots will begin with great force and will not stop until all its objectives are achieved,” he concluded.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)