JERUSALEM — Israel's Cabinet voted Monday to seize the Gaza Strip for an unspecified amount of time in a move that could see Israel reestablish control over a territory it vacated two decades ago. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 after a decades-long occupation and then imposed a blockade on the territory along with Egypt.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operation would be "intensive" and would see more Palestinians in Gaza moved "for their own safety."

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.