Israel Defense Forces will gradually enter tracts of northern and southern Gaza and stay long-term to root out Hamas fighters and destroy their tunnels.

Israel’s security cabinet on Sunday approved an expanded military operation in Gaza that would include relocating the enclave’s entire population to the south, according to an Israeli official, while a minister described the plan as a move to “conquer” the territory.

Two Israeli officials says ministers have approved a plan to capture the entirety of the Gaza Strip and remain in the territory for an unspecified amount of time.