Israel to 'occupy Gaza' as cabinet approves expanded war

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said his country will "finally" occupy the Gaza Strip as Benjamin Netanyahu's government orders the war on the Palestinian enclave to be expanded.

The far-right minister said Israel will not withdraw from Gaza even if Israeli captives will be freed in return, noting that their release is only possible if Hamas is "subdued".

"We are finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation,'" Smotrich told Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal during a news conference.

“We are finally taking control of all humanitarian aid, so that it does not become supplies for Hamas. We are separating Hamas from the population, cleansing the strip, returning the hostages - and defeating Hamas,” he said.

Israel's plan to expand its assault in Gaza is different to previous operations, with a political source telling Ynet that Netanyahu told ministers: "We are moving from the method of raids to occupying the territories and remaining in them."

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