But Israel does not want to “keep” or “govern it,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ahead of a cabinet meeting to discuss expanding military 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.

Mass protests have erupted across Israel as the country security cabinet was meeting to decide on a full reoccupation of Gaza, move that would mark a major escalation of the war.