Israel's far-right finance minister wants a tougher plan, Italy warned of a "Vietnam" for Israel's army and thousands of people protested in Tel Aviv, calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages.

Netanyahu wants us to believe, or at least wants the Trump administration to, that Israel has no alternative than to intensify the war and, in effect, reoccupy the whole of the Gaza Strip — seriously risking the lives of the hostages in the process.

Israel is facing growing condemnation the prime minister describes as a "global campaign of lies," amid new plans to escalate the violence in Gaza.