Israel’s security cabinet was set to convene on Thursday to discuss expanding the country’s military campaign across all of Gaza, despite growing domestic opposition to a move that could lead to the killing of more Palestinian civilians and may endanger the lives of Israeli hostages.
The prospect of the Israeli military moving into the rest of Gaza comes as talks to achieve a cease-fire and the release of hostages have hit an impasse, with Israeli and Hamas officials accusing each other of sabotage.
Approval from the security cabinet for the expanded military action would be in defiance of many countries’ urging Israel to end the nearly two-year war in Gaza. In recent weeks, Israel has come under growing pressure from some longstanding allies to do more to address a hunger crisis in the enclave that has killed scores of Palestinians.
Israeli officials have emphasized that Mr. Netanyahu has not made a final decision on whether to expand the military campaign. Some analysts have said that he is threatening to widen the offensive to compel Hamas to offer concessions in the cease-fire negotiations. Even if the security cabinet votes in favor of taking over the remainder of Gaza, it could take days or weeks before Israeli soldiers begin pushing deeper into the territory.
The Israeli military has said that it has conquered roughly 75 percent of Gaza. The coastal strip stretching from Gaza City in the north to Khan Younis in the south is the main area that is outside Israeli control. Many of the two million Palestinians in Gaza, including those displaced from their homes in the territory, have squeezed into tents, makeshift shelters and apartments in those areas.
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