“Under the plans announced last night - and agreed by Israel's security cabinet - the Israeli military would take control of Gaza City, home to around one million people, with a view, it says, to disarming Hamas, freeing the hostages, and establishing security control over the Strip. The plan has been met with heavy condemnation by much of the international community, with United Nations (UN) human rights chief Volker Türk saying it would "result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes".”

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“The goal, according to the statement, is to achieve a decisive victory over Hamas. The plan allows for the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population “outside the combat zones,” it said.”

Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Military Takeover of Gaza

“The goal, according to the statement, is to achieve a decisive victory over Hamas, which led the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that started the war. The plan also allows for the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population “outside the combat zones,” it said. AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTThe announcement appeared to stop short of explicitly saying Israel would take full control of the Gaza Strip, which Mr. Netanyahu earlier said was his intention.The cabinet also approved five principles for ending the war, including the disarming of Hamas; the return of all 50 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive; the demilitarization of Gaza; Israeli security control over the enclave; and the establishment of an alternative civilian administration there that involves neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority, the rival Western-backed body that exercises limited control in parts of the occupied West Bank.It is likely to take the military days, at least, to call up reserve forces, carry out troop deployments for a push into Gaza City and allow time for the forced evacuation of tens of thousands of Palestinians from the new areas of combat.Some analysts have said that the plan for the new offensive may be a threat to compel Hamas to offer concessions in stalled cease-fire negotiations. Days ago, American and Israeli officials floated the idea of an all-or-nothing deal for Gaza in which all the hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the war would end under certain conditions. Otherwise, the Israeli military would continue its campaign.The Israeli military has said that it has already conquered about 75 percent of Gaza. The coastal strip stretching from Gaza City in the north to Khan Younis in the south is the main area outside Israeli control. Many of the two million Palestinians in Gaza, including those displaced from their homes, have squeezed into tents, makeshift shelters and apartments in those areas.AdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTMr. Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel planned to take control of all of Gaza, bucking the advice of the Israeli military and warnings that expanding operations could endanger the hostages being held there and kill more Palestinian civilians.”

Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Military Takeover of Gaza

“Mr. Netanyahu and his coalition partners have argued that bringing home the remaining captives cannot come at the expense of decisively routing Hamas... And the families of the remaining hostages fear their loved ones could be killed in the Israeli advance.”

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“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has vowed to keep fighting until his country has decisively defeated Hamas, the militant group that has ruled Gaza for nearly two decades, by stripping it of its military and governing capabilities and forcing it to disarm.”

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“The government says the Gaza City aim of the proposed military operation is to root Hamas out of one of its last strongholds and achieve a decisive victory over the group that led the deadly attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which set off the war. He has shared concerns about the exhaustion and fitness of reservists, these officials said, amid warnings that expanding operations could endanger the hostages and kill more Palestinian civilians.”

Netanyahu Faces High-Level Opposition to His Stance on Gaza Truce

“Israel went back to war on 18 March with a series of huge air strikes and since then a new military offensive, which the prime minister says will finally deliver the elusive "total victory" over Hamas that he promised on 7 October 2023. ... Figures vary slightly, but it is believed that 54 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 31 are believed to be dead.”

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“To justify its pitiless pulverizing of Gaza, Israel has endlessly invoked the threat of Hamas, supposedly lurking in schools, hospitals, homes and mosques.”

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“The rising discontent in the ranks threatens to complicate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to take control of Gaza City in an effort to decisively rout Hamas.”

Israel’s Exhausted Soldiers Complicate Plans for Gaza Assault

“In the wake of the Hamas-led attack, Israeli leaders vowed to eliminate the Palestinian group in Gaza. But despite repeatedly invading almost every corner of the Gaza Strip and assassinating numerous Hamas leaders, that goal remains elusive. Hamas has fought a dogged insurgency and continued to recruit new fighters to its ranks, according to Israeli and U.S. officials. The armed group also still holds about 20 living hostages seized during the Oct. 7 attacks, in addition to the bodies of around 28 others.”

Over 15 Killed in Gaza City, One Day After Israel Ends Daily Pauses for Aid

“Israel launched its campaign aiming to destroy Hamas after the group’s 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 251 hostage. The militants still hold 53 hostages, fewer than half of them alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.”

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