Israel aims to press Hamas into releasing hostages and ultimately to destroy the group, but says it will now also allow some aid to enter the enclave.

Israeli troops "will stay and hold the ground in areas we've already fought for longer," an IDF spokesperson told Newsweek.

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu – who the International Criminal Court (ICC) alleges is responsible for war crimes in Gaza – responded angrily. He accused the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris of offering Hamas a “huge prize” for its October 7 attack on Israel.

Israel has launched its most extensive ground offensive in Gaza in decades, aiming to dismantle Hamas and reassert control over the territory. As Operation Gideon's Chariots unfolds, the world watches to see whether Israel can achieve its objectives amid mounting humanitarian crises and international scrutiny.