Image source, Reuters

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz says the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will follow the government’s orders, regardless of its top official's opinion on plans to expand its operations in Gaza.

It comes after IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly opposed politicians over plans to take full control of the Gaza Strip.

He is said to have warned the prime minister that expanding Israel’s military occupation would put the remaining Israeli hostages in danger and exhaust the army.

In a social media post, Katz says it is Zamir’s “right and duty to express his position in the appropriate forums".

But after Israel's political leaders make decisions, the IDF will carry them out "with determination and professionalism,” he says.

In its latest update, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says it has recorded five deaths as a result of malnutrition in the last 24 hours.

It says this brings the total number of deaths due to "famine and malnutrition" in the Gaza Strip to 193, including 96 children.

Gaza's Hamas-run government media office says 20 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured overnight when a truck carrying food "overturned" on a crowd.

In a statement, it alleges Israel "forced" the truck to "enter via unsafe routes" that had been damaged by bombing.

The incident happened around midnight near the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal tells the AFP news agency.

The Israeli military tells AFP it is looking into the reports, and the BBC has asked for comment from Cogat, the Israeli military body which oversees the entry of aid into Gaza.

The latest figures from the UN indicate more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed seeking food since late May.

The Israeli government does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, into Gaza to report freely on the situation there.

Image source, Reuters

As we've been reporting this morning, a UN official has warned of "catastrophic consequences" if Israel expands its military operations in Gaza.

That was during a meeting of the UN Security Council last night.

Speaking at that meeting, the UK's permanent representative to the United Nations, Barbara Woodward, said there was a "rare moment of hope" at the beginning of the year with a ceasefire, but since it ended “the suffering of the hostages and Palestinian civilians has plumbed new and shocking depths”.

Woodward condemned to the council the “depraved” images of hostage Evyatar David and other “emaciated hostages paraded in front of cameras for propaganda”, saying that Hamas and its “terrorist ideology can have no place in future governance of Gaza”.

She also called on Israel to act to alleviate the “horrendous suffering” of Palestinian civilians, calling attention to a report on the "famine now unfolding in Gaza" by the IPC - a UN-backed monitor - and recalling stories from doctors of children with “festered” wounds that can’t heal due to malnutrition.

“The UK is ready to play its full and historic part in achieving a plan which ends the bloodshed, brings the hostages home and lays the foundation for a Palestinian state,” Woodward said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reported plan has been met with some opposition in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli media reports.

In a meeting with Netanyahu and a small group of ministers yesterday, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly said full occupation would endanger the remaining hostages and exhaust the army.

Other Israeli military and intelligence officials reportedly favouring working towards a ceasefire-hostage deal include the IDF's hostages chief Nitzan Alon and Mossad chief David Barnea.

Responding to reports that Zamir and other military leaders oppose the plan, local journalists quote a senior official as saying: "If that doesn't work for the chief of staff, he should resign."

Image source, EPA

US President Donald Trump says he is “focused" on food distribution in Gaza, while the issue of Israel reoccupying the Strip is "going to be pretty much up to Israel".

Asked by a reporter on Tuesday whether he supported Israel reoccupying all of Gaza, Trump said: "Well, I don't know what the suggestion is. I know that we are there now trying to get people fed."

He added that people in Gaza "are obviously not doing too well with the food", and that "Israel is going to help us with that in terms of distribution and also money."

"So that's what I'm focused on. As far as the rest of it, I really can't say, that's going to be pretty much up to Israel," he said.

As we've just been reporting, after almost two years of war Israel's military says it has operational control of 75% of the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reported plan would see Israel's military move to occupy the entire territory – going into areas where more than two million Palestinians are now concentrated.

The Israeli military has previously held back from some areas, including parts of central Gaza, because of an assumption that there are living hostages held there.

Some 87% of Gaza is under Israeli military control or subject to evacuation orders, according to the UN.

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

Israel's military says it already has operational control of 75% of Gaza, but the new plan would reportedly propose occupying the entire region - including areas where more than two million Palestinians now live.

"The die has been cast. We're going for the full conquest of the Gaza Strip – and defeating Hamas," local journalists quote a senior official as saying.

It is unclear what that would mean for civilians and for the operations of the UN and other aid groups.

About 90% of Gaza's 2.1 million people have been displaced, some repeatedly, and are living in overcrowded and dire conditions. Humanitarian groups and UN officials say many are starving, accusing Israel of impeding the distribution of crucial aid.

Yesterday Israel said it will allow local businesspeople in Gaza to restart entry of some goods as part of efforts to improve conditions there. Private imports were previously stopped because of claims that Hamas was benefitting.

Palestinians point out that far-right Israeli ministers have been openly advocating for the full occupation and annexation of Gaza and ultimately want to build new Jewish settlements there.

• Read more on the reported plan

Netanyahu’s reported plan to reoccupy Gaza would be "deeply alarming" and could endanger the lives of more Palestinians as well as Israeli hostages held by Hamas, a UN official says.

Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenča told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that under international law, Gaza "is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state".

Jenča reiterated to the UN Security Council the call for a ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

He adds that Palestinians in Gaza face "squalid" and "inhumane" conditions, and urges Israel to immediately allow the unimpeded passage of sufficient aid.

• Read more of Jenča's comments at the UN Security Council

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

On Tuesday, Netanyahu held a security meeting at which he’s reported to have come out in favour of the Israeli military taking full control of the Palestinian territory.

Such a move still needs the approval of the security cabinet, which is due to meet tomorrow.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he won’t interfere with Israeli plans.

Pressed by reporters on whether he’d support an Israeli plan to reoccupy all of Gaza, President Trump responded: "That’s pretty much going to be up to Israel."

There are fears that a new escalation of the war in Gaza – where experts say that famine is unfolding – would put the lives of more Palestinians, and about 20 living Israeli hostages, at risk.

It’s been suggested that the plan could be a negotiating tactic to pressure Hamas after a recent breakdown of ceasefire talks – or an attempt to shore up support from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

A UN official has warned of "catastrophic consequences" if Israel expands its military operations in Gaza, after reports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for total reoccupation of the strip.

It comes after a recent breakdown in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire and hostage deal.

There are reports that some military leaders oppose the move, and the families of hostages fear the plans could endanger their loved ones.

In recent weeks there has been growing international pressure over the war in Gaza, where experts say famine is unfolding.