\n<\/p>\n
Israel is expected to approve a new plan today to take over Gaza aimed at completely destroying Hamas and securing hostage releases, despite domestic and international opposition and warnings of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.<\/p>\n
Ahead of a cabinet meeting Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel intends to take control of the territory, but \u201cwe don\u2019t want to govern it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us,\u201d Netanyahu told Fox News.<\/p>\n
The operation could take up to five months<\/a> and would involve a phased effort involving military operations and increased humanitarian support, Israeli media reported. Yet several ministers and even Israel\u2019s military chief have warned against the plan<\/a>, with one telling an Israeli broadcaster that the country could end up \u201cknowingly entering a Vietnam model.\u201d<\/p>\n The potential expansion of operations comes with Gazans facing widespread hunger and disease, and the UN warning that the scale of relief efforts remain far short of what is required<\/a>.<\/p>\n