Israel pushed deeper into Gaza on Wednesday, with troops moving toward Gaza City in what officials called the “next phase of the war.” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also authorized 60,000 reservists, stepping up pressure on Hamas.
At the same time, the government approved 3,400 new settlement homes in the West Bank, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declaring that the “idea of a Palestinian state is being erased.”
The moves come as mediators push a new ceasefire plan, but Israel’s takeover strategy has cast doubt on talks. If successful, the offensive would reverse Israel’s 2005 Gaza pullout.
Arab nations have refused to govern Gaza after the war, insisting Palestinians decide their future. Meanwhile, aid groups warn famine is near, with most of Gaza’s two million people repeatedly displaced.