The Israeli government has ordered the Israeli military to “halt the operation to conquer Gaza”, Al Jazeera reports, citing Army Radio.

Army Radio’s military correspondent, Doron Kadosh, said Israel’s “political echelon” had instructed the military to reduce activity “to a minimum” and only “carry out defensive actions” in Gaza.

“The practical implication: the operation to conquer [Gaza City] has been blocked – and halted for now,” he said in a post on X.