Israeli cabinet approves expansion of Gaza offensive

Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to capture the entire Gaza Strip and remain there for an unspecified amount of time, Associated Press reported, quoting two officials. If implemented, the plan could vastly expand Israel's operations in the Palestinian territory, which would likely exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis. Israeli Cabinet ministers approved the plan in an early morning vote on Monday, hours after the Israeli military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.

The move is part of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu-led government's efforts to elevate pressure on Hamas to free hostages and negotiate a ceasefire on Israel's terms. Officials told AP that the new plan is meant to help Israel achieve its war aims of defeating Hamas. It would also push hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza.

Since a US-brokered truce deal between Israel and Hamas collapsed in mid-March, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have unleashed fierce strikes on the Palestinian territory, killing hundreds of people and capturing large swathes of land. Per reports, Israel now roughly controls 50 per cent of Gaza.