Israel‘s security Cabinet approved a plan to extend the country’s war in Gaza despite domestic and international pressure to end the conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s proposal, which a majority of the security Cabinet approved after hours of negotiations into the early hours of Friday morning,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that Israel's goal is not to take over Gaza, but to free Gaza from Hamas and enable a peaceful government to be established there,

The Israeli military “will prepare for taking control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.