Escalation of the war in Gaza is in sight. Last week, as the famine grew worse, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a plan for his country’s military to take control of Gaza City, a decision roundly condemned as a costly invasion that would create more suffering for Palestinians and risk the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity.

Netanyahu said as recently as Thursday evening that he intended to take control of all of Gaza — something long demanded by far-right members of his coalition, who represent a minority in Israel and since the start of the war have argued that the only way to defeat Hamas is to reestablish Israeli settlements in the enclave.