ACTIVISTS blasted Israel’s plans to permanently occupy Gaza and said it would not be possible without the support of the United States and its allies.

Tel Aviv approved plans today to seize the entire Gaza Strip and permanently remain in the territory for an unspecified amount of time, two Israeli officials said, in a move that if implemented would vastly expand Israel’s operations in the Palestinian territory.

Israeli cabinet ministers approved the plan in an early morning vote, hours after the Israeli military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.