Israel's planned takeover of Gaza City is expected to last no less than six months, Israel's state-owned Kan TV News reported Saturday, citing senior security sources. The report came a day after the Israeli security cabinet approved the operation plan.

According to the channel, the army plans to evacuate over 800,000 residents from Gaza City to the Al-Mawasi "humanitarian zone" in southern Gaza within two weeks. In about a month, a reserve division will join the five divisions already deployed in the strip, preparing for an intense ground operation in Gaza City expected to begin in roughly two months.

The offensive would be accompanied by a boost in humanitarian aid: Israel plans to quadruple the number of aid trucks entering Gaza to 1,200 per day.

The decision to escalate the conflict has faced strong opposition within Israel, including from military officials and the families of hostages held in Gaza. It has also drawn criticism from the international community. Critics argue the military plan violates international law, worsens the humanitarian crisis, and undermines efforts toward a ceasefire.

The decision has sparked protests both inside Israel and abroad. On Saturday evening, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv's "Hostages Square" calling for an agreement to end the conflict and secure the release of Israeli hostages. In Turkiye, thousands rallied at Beyazit Square, chanting "Murderer Israel, get out of Palestine" and holding banners accusing Israel of starving Gaza.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also spoke by phone with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, condemning Israel's plan to bring Gaza under full military control as "absolutely unacceptable." Erdogan reaffirmed Turkiye's support for Palestine, welcomed growing European calls for Palestinian statehood, and noted rising criticism of Israel in the West.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing. On Saturday, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Qatari Prime Minister Abdulrahman al-Thani in Spain to discuss an end to the Gaza crisis and the release of all 50 remaining hostages.

Sources said Qatar and the U.S. are drafting a comprehensive ceasefire proposal to be presented to Israel and Hamas within the next two weeks.

Israel and Hamas had engaged in indirect talks in Doha since July 6 over a ceasefire and hostage exchanges, but the talks were suspended on July 24 when both the U.S. and Israel recalled their representatives. Following a July 31 meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Witkoff, a senior Israeli official said both sides had shifted from pursuing a short-term truce to seeking a broader deal – disarming Hamas, "demilitarizing" Gaza, and securing the release of all detainees.

The humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to rise. Gaza's health authorities reported on Saturday that at least 9,862 Palestinians have been killed and 40,809 injured since Israel intensified strikes on March 18. This brings the death toll since October 2023 to 61,369, with 152,850 wounded. In the past 24 hours, eleven more people – including children – have died from starvation and malnutrition, raising such deaths since October 2023 to 212, including 98 children.

(With input from agencies)