Israeli ministers approve plans to 'conquer' Gaza, control aid delivery

Israel's security cabinet approved the expansion of military operations in Gaza including the "conquest" of the Palestinian territory, an official said Monday, after the army called up tens of thousands of reservists for the offensive.

It comes as the United Nations and aid organisations have repeatedly warned of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, with famine again looming after more than two months of a total Israeli blockade.

The plan, approved by the cabinet overnight, includes the holding of territories in the besieged Gaza Strip, the official said, and comes amid a push by Israel to expel Gaza's 2.2 million residents.

Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said that Israeli forces will reoccupy the entire territory and will not withdraw even if Hamas releases the remaining Israeli prisoners.

The military said on Sunday it was calling up tens of thousands of reservists to expand its offensive.

Israeli media reported that the plan would not be implemented before US President Donald Trump's visit to the region next week.

Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on 18 March amid deadlock over how to proceed with a two-month ceasefire that had largely halted the war with Hamas.

Israel has since carried out intensive aerial bombardments and expanded ground operations across the Palestinian territory, killing almost 2,500 Palestinians.

The Israeli official said the plan for expanded operations "will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories, moving the Gaza population south for their protection".

The majority of Gaza's population had resided in the north of the territory, particularly Gaza City, and nearly all have been displaced at least once since the war began.

The cabinet, which includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several ministers, "unanimously approved" the plan aimed at defeating Gaza's rulers Hamas and securing the return of Israeli prisoners held in the territory.

The proposal was condemned by a campaign group representing the captives' families, which accused the government of "sacrificing" those still being held in the territory.

'Political blackmail'

Israel's security cabinet also approved overnight the "possibility of humanitarian distribution, if necessary" in Gaza, "to prevent Hamas from taking control of the supplies and to destroy its governance capabilities".

News reports over the weekend revealed that the plan would see the Israeli military allow small amounts of aid into the strip, and control who receives it and where it is distributed from.

A grouping of UN entities and NGOs in the Palestinian territory accused Israel of seeking to "shut down the existing aid distribution system... and have us agree to deliver supplies through Israeli hubs under conditions set by the Israeli military".

The plan "contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles and appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic -- as part of a military strategy", the Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory said in a statement.

"The UN Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator have made clear that we will not participate in any scheme", it added.

Hamas said Monday the proposal amounted to "political blackmail" and blamed Israel for the territory's "humanitarian catastrophe".

Israel's cabinet said there was "currently enough food" in Gaza, although humanitarian organisations and UN agencies have warned of the blockade's dire consequences for Gaza's 2.2 million people.

Dozens of children are reported to have died from malnutrition in recent days and aid organisations warn that thousands more are at risk.

Israeli forces have killed more than 52,500 Palestinians during their 19-month assault on Gaza, which has left almost all of the territory in ruins.

(AFP contributed to this report)