Israel to push to reoccupy all of Gaza in ‘updated’ war plan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to update Israel’s Gaza war plan, a day before a UN Security Council meeting on the fate of hostages still held in the Palestinian territory. Addressing a cabinet meeting with the war well into its 22nd month, the Israeli leader told ministers on Monday that later in the week he would instruct the military on how “to achieve the three war objectives we have set”. Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 and the Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted officials in Mr Netanyahu’s office saying that the “updated strategy” would be to reoccupy all of Gaza, including areas in Gaza City where the military believes hostages are being held. The cabinet would meet on Tuesday to endorse the plan, the reports said. There was no immediate official confirmation, but the Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry denounced what it called a “leaked” plan and urged the international community to intervene to quash any new military occupation. Mr Netanyahu is facing mounting domestic and international pressure to bring the remaining hostages in Gaza home and allow much more aid into the starving territory. Israel – backed by the United States and Panama – is preparing to convene a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday to highlight the fate of the hostages. Mr Netanyahu on Monday reiterated that Israel’s three war goals remained “the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel”. His statement came after hundreds of retired Israeli security chiefs wrote to US President Donald Trump to urge him to convince Mr Netanyahu to end the war.