Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, made the remarks ahead of a security cabinet meeting, although military leaders are wary of expanding operations in the territory.

Israel has routed its enemies across the region but has yet to return all its hostages from the Gaza Strip. Hamas appears to have been decimated militarily but has kept up insurgent attacks. Gaza is in ruins and experts say it is sliding into famine, and long-running ceasefire talks seem to have broken down.

TEL AVIV/CAIRO, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday Israel intends to take military control of all of Gaza, despite intensifying criticism at home and abroad over the devastating almost two-year-old war in the Palestinian enclave.