Israel is preparing to launch an expanded military operation in Gaza City, possibly in the coming days, even as negotiators scramble to bring Israel and Hamas to a ceasefire to end 22 months of fighting. The Israeli military said Wednesday that the country’s defence minister has approved plans to begin a new phase of operations in some of Gaza’s most densely populated areas, and that it would call up 60,000 reservists and lengthen the service of an additional 20,000 reservists currently serving.

An official said that the military will be operating in parts of Gaza City where the Israeli military has not yet operated and where it believes Hamas is still active. Israel also approved a controversial settlement project in the occupied West Bank that would effectively cut the territory in two, and that Palestinians and rights groups say could destroy plans for a future Palestinian state.

Settlement development in E1, has been under consideration for decades and received final approval from the Planning and Building Committee after the last petitions against it were rejected on August 6.