Israel approves plan to occupy Gaza City while detailing 'principles for ending the war'

In the Middle East.

A major escalation in the conflict there is expected as Israeli forces prepare to take over Gaza city.

Kim Do-yeon explains.

Israel's political-security cabinet has approved a plan to occupy Gaza City the largest city in the enclave early Friday, signaling a significant escalation in the near two-year conflict, despite intensifying international and domestic criticism.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on social media read, quote, "The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones," detailing the following "principles for ending the war":

Disarmament of Hamas

Return of all hostages -both living and dead

Demilitarization of the Gaza Strip

Israeli security control over the Gaza Strip

The existence of an alternative civilian government that is not Hamas or the Palestinian Authority

Netanyahu's office also noted most political-security cabinet members believed an alternative plan would not achieve the defeat of Hamas or the return of hostages.

However, government sources indicate that the security cabinet's decision still requires final approval from the full cabinet, a session not expected until Sunday.

The cabinet's approval came just hours after Netanyahu said Israel intended to assume full military control of the entire strip.

"In order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza, and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel. That's what we want to do. We want to liberate ourselves and liberate the people of Gaza from the awful terror of Hamas."

As the cabinet votes, mass protests erupted across Israel.

According to Israel, it already controls around 75 percent of Gaza.

Most of Gaza's population of about 2 million has been displaced multiple times over the past 22 months and aid groups are warning that the enclave's residents are on the verge of famine.

Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.