By going public now Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to squeeze Hamas for concessions and please the far rightIsrael to expand military operations in Gaza to establish ‘sustained presence’Middle East crisis – live updatesThe announcement of Israel’s plan to launch imminently a new, expanded offensive in Gaza and to retain the territory it seized is a significant moment, at least in terms of public rhetoric.Throughout the nearly 19-month war, Israeli troops have carried out large and frequently bloody operations that have covered all except central parts of Gaza, but they have largely restricted their permanent presence to a buffer zone about 1km deep along the devastated territory’s perimeter and two relatively narrow east-west corridors. Continue reading...