Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene his security cabinet on Thursday to discuss a controversial plan for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, according to an Israeli official speaking to ABC News.

Axar.az reports that the proposed operation would involve a gradual seizure of Gaza City, the most populous urban center in the territory, despite mounting international criticism over the worsening humanitarian crisis.

This follows a three-hour cabinet meeting on Tuesday, during which the plan was preliminarily discussed. A readout from Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the IDF is prepared to act on any decision made by the political-security leadership.

The full cabinet meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET).