Will Israel declare war on Sunday? What to know as tensions escalate

As the IDF ramps up attacks in the Gaza Strip to increasing levels of intensity and a hostage deal is farther away than ever, Israel's government is set to meet Sunday to decide whether to launch the long-awaited operation to destroy Hamas' remaining formations.

Israel appears set to approve Operation Gideon's Chariots, aimed at destroying the remaining Hamas military formations and militarily occupying most of the Gaza Strip, at the government meeting this coming Sunday. The IDF is already striking Hamas very hard from the air and on the ground in raids at an intensity not seen since the last ceasefire was declared.

Meanwhile, all efforts to secure a hostage deal on terms acceptable to Israel have run aground, as Hamas insists that any deal leave them with their arms intact and with the IDF entirely gone from the Gaza Strip.

59 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip, just 20 of which are considered "certain" to be alive. Three others may or may not be alive.

President Trump has reportedly given Israel a free hand in determining how to move against Hamas, and Prime Minister Netanyahu, traditionally cautious about Gaza, has said he intends to go all the way in the coming operation.

As for humanitarian aid, plans are being implemented to ensure Gazan civilians get all the food and supplies they need without Hamas being able to steal them for their own fighters or resell them to Gazans to remain financially afloat.

Walla military correspondent Amir Bohbot described the IDF plan as follows:

"The IDF is preparing for the next phase aimed at returning hostages and collapsing Hamas rule. The IDF emphasizes that pressure on the Gaza Strip will increase gradually.

"The IDF describes the scale of reserve mobilization in the past week as "good to very good."

"The attacks carried out in the last 24 hours were intended to support the entry of forces into the ground phase in the Gaza Strip."