Israel’s defense minister says the country's military operation in the Gaza Strip is expanding to seize “large areas” of the Palestinian territory.

Israel Katz warned that “large areas” of the enclave would be seized and added to military-controlled security zones, suggesting that the country intended to hold on to more territory.

Israel has launched a major expansion of its military operation in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, saying that its army would seize “large areas” of the Palestinian territory.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced a major expansion of the military operation in Gaza on Wednesday, saying large areas of the enclave would be seized and added to the security zones of Israel.

It is the biggest such order since Israel resumed its offensive in the Palestinian territory earlier this month.