JERUSALEM — Israel’s Cabinet voted Monday to seize the Gaza Strip for an unspecified amount of time in a move that could see Israel reestablish control over a territory it vacated two decades ago. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 after a decades-long occupation and then imposed a blockade on the territory along with Egypt.

Right-wing Israeli minister Bazalel Smotrich argued Israeli forces must destroy Gaza "entirely" in order to achieve victory over Hamas on Tuesday.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says victory in Gaza will mean the enclave being "entirely destroyed," Palestinians leaving for other countries.

Hamas says it will no longer engage in truce talks amid a catastrophic hunger crisis created by Israel’s blockade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the population of Gaza will be displaced to the south after his security cabinet approved an expanded military operation in the enclave that a minister described as a plan to “conquer” the territory.

The UN also expresses alarm after Israel approves a new plan that may include seizing all of Gaza indefinitely and controlling aid.