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Isreali defence officials has said that the country’s new plan to intensify the assault on Gaza would not begin until after President Donald Trump wraps up his expected visit to the Middle East this month.
This allows for the possibility that Israel might agree to a ceasefire in the meantime.
Trump’s visit offers ‘window of opportunity’ for a hostage deal, an senior Israeli defence official said on Monday.
He said there was a “window of opportunity” for a hostage deal in Gaza during US President Donald Trump’s visit to the region next week.
However, as Reuters reports, if no deal is agreed Israel would begin its new operation in the enclave.
“If there is no hostage deal, Operation ‘Gideon Chariots’ will begin with great intensity and will not stop until all its goals are achieved,” the senior official said.
This followed a decision by the security cabinet to approve an expanded operation.
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