Israeli ministers approve plan to expand operations, seize Gaza Strip

Two Israeli officials say ministers have approved a plan to seize the Gaza strip and to stay in the territory for an unspecified amount of time.

If carried out, the move would vastly expand Israel’s operations in the Palestinian territory and likely draw fierce international opposition.

Israeli cabinet ministers approved the plan in a vote Monday, that calls for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to move to Gaza’s south.

The details were not formally announced, and its exact timing and implementation are not clear yet.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a new offensive in Gaza will be an intensive military operation aimed at defeating Hamas, but stopped short of detailing just how much of the enclave’s territory would be seized.