The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has condemned Israel's plan to seize Gaza City as a "full-fledged war crime. " The move was "part of Israel's ongoing policy of genocide and forced displacement" and formed part of a "brutal practice of ethnic cleansing against our Palestinian people,

Israel says it plans to take over Gaza City in another escalation of its 22-month war with Hamas. The decision, made after a late-night meeting of top officials, drew Palestinian rejection and fueled mounting international calls to end the war.