The weekend strike in Gaza pushed the death toll of people killed more than 50,000 since the war began, local health officials said.
Israel launched the attack after a Hamas-led terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking hostages around 250 others, causing major escalation in a decades-long conflict.
Since resuming the Israeli military campaign, far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition government, Itamar Ben Gwil, have rejoined the cabinet. He and his Otzma Yehudith party, translated into “The Power of the Jews,” left a vulnerable coalition against the ceasefire agreement.
Now, Israel appears to be ready for the possibility of a new phase of war if Hamas does not accept the expansion proposal, experts have warned NBC News of the possibility of a wider Israeli occupation of Gaza.
“It is fairly clear and understood that the purpose of the current military operation is to pressure Hamas to accept Witkov’s proposal and not return to the negotiation table,” said Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the National Security Institute, a Tel Aviv think tank.
If Hamas continues to reject the proposal, Michael said he believes Israeli forces will “enhance military pressure” along with the possibility that Israel may be considering “occupying the Gaza Strip” with a “temporary military junta” that aims to dismantle Hamas.
