By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Israel is giving Hamas an eleven-day window to reach a deal with Israel for the return of the remaining 59 hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip – or else face the total takeover of Gaza by IDF forces, a senior Israeli defense official said Monday.

Before dawn Monday, the Israeli Security Cabinet voted unanimously to approve a proposed expanded ground operation in the Gaza Strip dubbed “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.”

According to the senior Israeli official, the new operation was drafted on the basis of the Rafah Model, used by IDF forces during the occupation of the Rafah district of southern Gaza following the area’s capture in the spring of 2024.

While the IDF maintained control over buffer zones on the periphery of the Gaza Strip, outside of the Rafah area the IDF’s presence has been sporadic.

“Unlike in the past, the IDF will remain in every area it captures, to prevent the return of terrorism, and will treat every cleared area according to the ‘Rafah model’, where all threats were flattened and the area was incorporated into the security buffer zone,” the senior official said.

“A strong protective envelope will be provided to maneuvering forces from land, air, and sea, including the use of heavy tools to neutralize explosives and destroy threatening structures.”

Gazan civilians will be evacuated from the northern and central Gaza Strip to southern Gaza, to facilitate large-scale IDF attacks on Hamas forces and to prevent Hamas from seizing humanitarian aid earmarked for Gaza families.

“A central component of the plan is the large-scale evacuation of the entire Gazan population from combat zones, including northern Gaza, to southern areas. This is aimed at separating civilians from Hamas militants to enable the IDF operational freedom of action.”

The official added that initially, the ban on aid transfers to Gaza will continue during the new operation, though aid will at a later date be handed over to Gaza families at secured depots in southern Gaza.

The plan will be set into motion if no hostage deal is reached by the end of President Donald Trump’s visit to the Middle East next week, the defense official said.

“The force buildup before the start of the ground maneuver is designed to provide a window of opportunity until the end of the U.S. President’s visit to the region, during which a hostage deal based on the ‘Witkoff model’ could be finalized.”

“If a hostage deal is not reached, Operation Gideon’s Chariots will begin with full force and will not stop until all of its objectives are achieved.”

“The voluntary emigration plan for Gaza residents, especially for those concentrated in the south and outside of Hamas control, will also be part of the operation’s goals.”

President Trump is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia on May 13th, and will remain in the region until May 16th.