The military leadership has said it prefers a new cease-fire instead of renewed fighting, and the military’s chief of staff previously raised concerns about troop exhaustion.

Israeli cabinet approves plan for Gaza City takeover after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he intends the military to take full control of entire Israeli-occupied Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military “will prepare for taking control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.