Israel must take “all necessary measures to defeat Hamas” in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today.

“The defeat of Hamas in Gaza, while also creating the conditions for the return of the hostages, are the main objectives of the war in Gaza, and we must proceed with all necessary actions to achieve them,” Katz stated.

The minister is expected to “present this position later today” to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet, according to a statement from his office.

The meeting of the Israeli security council has been reported by media to take place later in the day, although it has not been officially confirmed.

Katz visited troops in the Gaza Strip, during which he explained that he has “formed his view regarding the security and political steps Israel must take to ensure the achievement of the war’s objectives.”

“Once the political leadership has made the necessary decisions, the military – as it has done on all fronts of the war so far – will implement the defined policy in a professional manner,” the minister said in the statement.

“We must guarantee the security of Israeli communities by maintaining a permanent presence of the Israeli army in a regional security zone at strategic points in Gaza, from where attacks against communities and the smuggling of weapons into Gaza can be prevented,” he added.