Netanyahu to convene security cabinet to discuss plans to occupy Gaza, official says
Netanyahu is expected to ask the cabinet to approve plans for the Isreal Defense Forces to gradually seize Gaza City, the largest city in the territory, the Israeli official told ABC News.
The cabinet was expected to meet at about 6 p.m. local time, or 11 a.m. ET, the source said.
MORE: Netanyahu pushes for release of hostages through 'military solution'
Netanyahu said Israel "intends to" take control of all of Gaza, but "we don't want to keep it or govern it," he said in an interview Thursday with Fox News.
"We don't want to be there as a governing body. We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life. That's not possible with Hamas," Netanyahu said ahead of meeting with the security cabinet.
Netanyahu said in the interview that he has not discussed Israel occupying all of Gaza with President Donald Trump.
"He understands that it's Israel who is going to do the fighting. It's not American soldiers," Netanyahu told Fox when asked if Trump has given him the green light to occupy all of Gaza.
"Well he just says, 'I know Israel is going to do what it's going to do,' and we haven't gotten into that kind of discussion," Netanyahu said.
Responding to Netanyahu's comments on Fox, Hamas said the prime minister's comments revealed the real reason Israel withdrew from the negotiations to reach a ceasefire deal.
"Netanyahu's statements represent a blatant reversal of the negotiation process and clearly expose the real motives behind his withdrawal from the latest round of talks, despite us nearing a final agreement," Hamas said in a statement.
"Netanyahu's plans to escalate the aggression confirm, without any doubt, that he is seeking to dispose of his captives and sacrifice them in service of his personal interests and extremist ideological agenda," Hamas continued.
MORE: 5 die of hunger in Gaza over past day, health ministry says
The Hostage Families Forum called for the Israeli cabinet to return to negotiations and reach a deal that will bring the remaining hostages home.
"We are appealing to the cabinet -- the expansion of the fighting is a danger of death and immediate disappearance for our loved ones -- look us in the eye when you choose to sacrifice them," the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement.
Two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News earlier this week that Netanyahu had decided to propose that the IDF move forward with a plan to fully conquer and occupy the Palestinian territory.
Netanyahu held a three-hour limited security cabinet meeting on Tuesday where the matter was discussed, according to a readout from the prime minister's office.
"The IDF is prepared to implement any decision made by the Political-Security Cabinet," the readout said.
On Sunday, an Israeli official told ABC News that Netanyahu was pushing to expand the military operation in Gaza on the grounds that he felt Hamas is not interested in reaching a new deal under which surviving hostages could be released.
When asked about the possible expansion of the campaign in Gaza, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Tuesday, "Reporting is one thing. Real plans might be another. We are not in the business of interpreting statements from foreign governments when and if they're made."
"We do remain focused on freeing the hostages, including the remains of two Americans, and ensuring that Hamas never rules Gaza again," Bruce said.
ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
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