Bezalel Smotrich, the hard-line finance minister, called a plan to gradually expand operations in Gaza “foolish,” saying that Israel should move more decisively and quickly to defeat Hamas.

Israel's far-right finance minister has demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrap his plan to seize Gaza City in favour of a tougher one, while Italy said on Sunday the plan could result in a "Vietnam" for Israel's army.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”