Israel already controls about 75 per cent of the enclave; of the major areas in Gaza, only its largest city is still out of Israeli hands. It reportedly foresees shipping hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the south and boosting assistance to those outside war zones. They have identified five main targets: the disarming of Hamas, liberation of all hostages, demilitarisation of Gaza, assuming security control and basing a new civilian administration that is not affiliated with Hamas or with the Palestinian Authority.

Receiving the cabinet's approval with a wide majority, the plan rejected alternatives that did not call for defeating Hamas or the return of hostages.

Military Concerns and Opposition
The final 25 percent is under the control of Palestinians, and it includes a long stretch of coastline (about 14 kilometers) as well as Gaza City, which for Israeli military purposes contains an estimated 1.0 to 1.

5 million people.) 'Israel is not going to be with a soldier in Gaza, it is nothing worth conquering — Israel doesn't see the benefit of ruling over Palestinian people for longer than we have to,' said Netanyahu, adding: 'Gaza should be given over to an Arab force'. Israel's military leadership opposes the expansion, but so do many of Jerusalem's traditional allies.

The Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, has been reported to warn about the army being overstretched after nearly two years of fighting..