Netanyahu to brief army on Gaza war plan

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Monday to update “Israel's” Gaza war plan, a day before a UN Security Council meeting on the fate of captives still held in the Palestinian territory.

Addressing a cabinet meeting with the war well into its 22nd month, the “Israeli” leader told ministers that later in the week he would instruct the military on how "to achieve the three war objectives we have set".

“Israeli” broadcaster Channel 12 and the Jerusalem Post newspaper quoted officials in Netanyahu's office saying that the "updated strategy" would be to re-occupy all of Gaza, including areas in Gaza City where the military believes captives are being held.

The cabinet would meet on Tuesday to endorse the plan, the reports said.

There was no immediate official confirmation, but the Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry denounced what it called a "leaked" plan and urged the international community to intervene to quash any new military occupation.

Netanyahu is facing mounting domestic and international pressure to bring the remaining captives in Gaza home and allow much more aid into the starving territory.

‘Israel” – backed by the United States and Panama – is preparing to convene a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday to highlight the fate of the captives.

Netanyahu on Monday reiterated that “Israel's” three war goals remained "the defeat of the enemy, the release of our hostages and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel".

His statement came after hundreds of retired “Israeli” security chiefs wrote to US President Donald Trump to urge him to convince Netanyahu to end the war.