On Monday, Israel approved plans to capture the entire Gaza Strip and remain on Palestinian territory indefinitely, reported Associated Press two Israeli officials.
The Israeli cabinet approved this plan in a morning vote, just hours after the army called up tens of thousands of reservists.
The new plan, which officials say is designed to help Israel achieve its military goals — to defeat Hamas and free hostages held in Gaza — also calls for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to relocate to the south of Gaza, which is likely to lead to their forced displacement and exacerbate an already severe humanitarian crisis.
Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 after a decade-long occupation and then, along with Egypt, imposed a blockade on the territory.
Since the truce with Hamas was broken in mid-March, the Israeli army has captured significant territories and now controls about 50% of Gaza.
Israeli officials stated that the plan includes "capture and hold territories." The plan also aims to prevent Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid, which Israel believes strengthens the group's power in Gaza.
According to officials, Israel is in contact with several countries regarding Trump's plan to capture Gaza and relocate its population as part of so-called "voluntary emigration." This proposal has been widely condemned, including by Israel's allies in Europe, and human rights groups have warned that under international law, this could be a war crime.
For several weeks, Israel has been trying to increase pressure on Hamas to force the group to agree to its terms in ceasefire negotiations. However, these measures do not seem to have made Hamas retreat from its positions in the negotiations.
Israel states that it will not agree to end the war until Hamas's leadership and military potential are eliminated. Hamas, in turn, seeks an agreement that ends the war without agreeing to disarmament.
As AP writes, Israel's statement about expanding territory outraged the families of the hostages, who fear that any prolongation of the conflict endangers their loved ones. The Forum of Hostage and Missing Families, which supports the families, called on Israeli decision-makers to prioritize the hostages and quickly reach an agreement.
On Monday, at a Knesset committee meeting, Einav Zangauker, the mother of one of the hostages, urged soldiers "not to report for reserve duty on moral and ethical grounds." Some reservists stated that they would refuse to serve in a war they increasingly see as politically motivated, the agency notes.
According to a memo circulated among aid groups and obtained by Associated Press, Israel informed the UN that it would use private security companies to oversee the distribution of aid in Gaza. The UN said in a statement on Sunday that it would not participate in the presented plan, stating that it violates its core principles.