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.

Israeli officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the plan included the “capturing of the strip and the holding of territories.”

The plan would also seek to prevent the militant Hamas group from distributing humanitarian aid, which Israel says strengthens the group’s rule in Gaza. It also accuses Hamas of keeping the aid for itself to bolster its capabilities. 

The plan would also include extended powerful strikes against Hamas targets, the officials said.

The officials said Israel was in touch with several countries about US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and relocate its population, under what Israel has termed “voluntary emigration,” yet which has sparked condemnations from Israel’s allies in Europe and the Arab world.

Israel’s expansion announcement has angered families of the hostages. The Hostage Forum, which supports families, said the plan put every hostage at risk and urged Israel’s decision-makers to secure a deal and prioritise the hostages.

At a Monday Knesset meeting, Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held hostage, called on soldiers “not to report for reserve duty for moral and ethical reasons.”

Before Israel unilaterally ended the ceasefire deal in March, Tel Aviv blocked all supplies from entering Gaza.

Israel is now insisting that supplies can only be delivered through Israeli hubs under conditions set by its military, if it agrees to reopen the crossings.

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) secretary general Jan Egeland warned that Israel wants “to manipulate and militarise all aid to civilians.

“NRC will stand by our humanitarian principles and will, with all our peers, refuse to take part in this new scheme. We urge donors to do the same.”

Margaret Kimberley, the executive editor of Black Agenda Reports, said: “Israel could not continue its atrocities without the support of the US and all the collective western nations. 

“Their leaders must also be held accountable and ought to be charged as war criminals under international law.”