The controversial decision to take control of Gaza City came amid massive anti-government protests across Israel demanding an immediate end to the war and ensuring immediate return of over 50 hostages held captive by Hamas for the last 22 months

"A decisive majority of Security Cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan that had been submitted to the Security Cabinet would neither achieve the defeat of Hamas nor the return of the hostages," Netanyahu`s office said

The plan cleared by the Security Cabinet featured five principles. These are: disarming of Hamas, return of all the hostages, the demilitarisation of Gaza, Israeli security control in Gaza and establishment of a civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority

Netanyahu`s office said the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will prepare for taking control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones

Earlier, Israeli Armed Forces` Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, cautioned against full military conquest of Gaza City and said it would be a "trap"

Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas attacked Israeli cities on October 7, 2023 killing about 1,200 people. Hamas also took 251 people as hostages and over 50 of them are still in its captivity

Israeli military operations have killed over 60,000 Palestinians since then, according to Gaza`s Hamas-run health ministry