Israeli leadership votes to expand Gaza's land offensive

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah's security cabinet has approved a new plan to expand the offensive to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, with the aim of taking over the entire Gaza Strip and maintaining occupied territory, an Israeli official has announced on Monday.

According to Israeli public broadcaster Khan, the new plan is gradual and is expected to last for months, starting with the concentration of forces in a designated area of destroyed territory.

This approach, according to security cabinet Minister Zeev Elkin, could leave room for a possible ceasefire agreement and release of hostages prior to US President Donald Trump's visit to the region next week.

“Ende has a window of opportunity until the completion of President Trump's visit to the Middle East, if Hamas realizes we are serious”, Elkin told Khan, reports Reuters, broadcast Periscope.

Israel already controls about a third of Gaza's territory and resumed land offensive in March, after a US-brokered ceasefire that had lasted two months failed. Since then, Israel has imposed a total blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Under the new plan, Israeli forces will not back off after the attacks, but will remain in territory until Hamas' destruction or disarm. However, Hamas has rejected any calls for surrender or withdrawal.

Israel has yet to present a clear plan for Gaza's post-war future, while facing international pressure to end a military campaign that has displaced the majority of the population of 2.3 million and that has reduced the aid to less.

The Israeli official said the civilian population would be moved south of Gaza and that there would be efforts to avoid falling aid in Hamas' hands, even though the blockade would not be removed at the moment.

On Sunday, the United Nations rejected what they described as a new relief plan through the “centres controlled by Israel”. /Periscope/