Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to meet with a small group of senior ministers to discuss plans for the military to take control of more territory in Gaza, despite mounting criticism at home and abroad over the nearly two-year-old conflict there.

Netanyahu will convene the security cabinet following a three-hour meeting this week with the head of the military, which Israeli officials described as tense, saying the military chief had pushed back on expanding the campaign.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the military would carry out the governments decisions until all war objectives were achieved. Israeli leaders have long insisted that Hamas be disarmed and have no future role in a demilitarised Gaza and that the hostages be freed.

Read the full story by Reuters here.