Israel cabinet approves plan for Gaza 'conquest'

ISRAEL'S security cabinet approved the expansion of military operations in Gaza including the "conquest" of the Palestinian territory, an official said yesterday, after the army called up tens of thousands of reservists for the offensive.

- 

It comes as the United Nations and aid organisations have repeatedly warned of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, with famine again looming after more than two months of a total Israeli blockade.

The Israeli official said the expanded operations "will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories, moving the Gaza population south for their protection".

A different senior security official said "a central component of the plan is a large-scale evacuation of the entire Gazan population from the fighting zones... to areas in southern Gaza".

The plan, approved by the cabinet overnight, comes amid a push by Israel for Palestinians to leave the territory.

A "voluntary transfer program for Gaza residents... will be part of the operation's goals," the senior security official added.

Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18 amid deadlock over how to proceed with a two-month ceasefire that had largely halted the war with Hamas, which was sparked by the militants' October 2023 attack.