Israel Cabinet approves plan to capture all of Gaza, as government calls up reservists

Israeli officials approved new plans Monday to capture all of Gaza, where the national state has been in a roughly 21-month-long war with Hamas, the Palestinian-backed group that governs the region. 

The new plans were approved in an early morning vote by Israeli Cabinet ministers, hours after Israel's military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers, the Associated Press reported.

The two anonymous Israeli officials told the AP that the new plans are intended to help Israel defeat Hamas and free the hostages held in Gaza, while also pushing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza.

Israel now controls about 50% of Gaza. 

The plans include the “capturing of the strip and the holding of territories,” the officials told the AP. Also, Israel would try to prevent Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid because it strengthens the terrorist group's rule in Gaza, as Hamas keeps the aid for itself to bolster its capabilities. The plans also include powerful strikes against Hamas targets.

Israel is in touch with several countries about President Trump's plan to take over Gaza and relocate the population, the officials said. One official said there will be a gradual implementation of the plan.

An internal memo from a meeting with the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which is the Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza, and the United Nations, said Israel will use private security companies to control aid distribution in Gaza. The UN said Sunday that it would not participate in the plan, as it violates its core principles.