Israel’s military will “take control” of Gaza City under a new plan approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, drawing swift criticism from inside the country and abroad.

Nearly two years into the Gaza war, Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to secure a truce that would ease famine conditions for the territory’s more than two million people and free hostages held by Palestinian militants.

Hamas condemned the plan to expand fighting as a “new war crime,” while close ally Germany took the unprecedented step of halting certain military exports to Israel over concerns they could be used in Gaza.

Under the approved strategy to “defeat” Hamas, the Israeli army “will prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population

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