Netanyahu has described Gaza City as Hamas’s “capital of terrorism,” claiming that the militant group uses the area to launch rockets at Israeli communities. But it remains unclear what an occupation of the city might look like and how long such an offensive may last.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel plans to widen its coming offensive beyond Gaza City to the last areas not yet under Israeli control.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said “this further escalation will result in more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction."