Israel has now decided that it wants to conquer Gaza and expand its military operations in the coming weeks.
Israeli officials, as quoted by the Guardian, said the aim is to “conquer”; the territory and establish a “sustained presence”; there.
This plan, according to the report, was unanimously approved at a security cabinet meeting late on Sunday and goes beyond any aims so far outlined by Israel for its offensive in the devastated Palestinian territory and is likely to prompt deep international concern and fierce opposition.
Officials told reporters in Israel that the plan would involve a new and intense offensive leading to “the conquest of Gaza and the holding of the territories, moving the Gaza population south for their protection [and] powerful blows against Hamas.”;
DAILY POST reports that a fragile ceasefire collapsed in mid-March after Israel renewed its bombardment of Gaza, with troops reinforcing kilometre-deep “buffer zones”; along the perimeter of Gaza and expanding their hold over much of the north and south of the territory.
Meanwhile the European Union, EU, has called for restraint from Israel after the approval of the expansion of military operations in Gaza.
“The European Union is concerned at the planned extension of the operation by Israeli forces in Gaza, which will result in further casualties and suffering for the Palestinian population.
“We urge Israel to exercise the utmost restraint,”; EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.
