Israel’s security cabinet has voted to expand the war in Gaza, marking a major escalation at a time when it is under intense domestic and international pressure to end the conflict.

The military leadership has said it prefers a new cease-fire instead of renewed fighting, and the military’s chief of staff previously raised concerns about troop exhaustion.

Israeli cabinet approves plan for Gaza City takeover after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he intends the military to take full control of entire Israeli-occupied Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip.