Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel"will not annex the Gaza Strip" and that a government agency, without providing further details, will temporarily control the Palestinian enclave, hours before the security cabinet meets to address the issue.

Netanyahu's remarks, reported by Israeli media, took place at an impromptu press conference with Indian journalists following his meeting Thursday with Indian Ambassador to Israel J.P. Singh at his office in Jerusalem.

The Israeli leader has reiterated that the main objectives of his offensive in Gaza remain"the complete destruction of Hamas and the return of all hostages." Palestinian militias are still holding 50 captives, of whom only about 20 remain alive, according to Israel.

Netanyahu will meet this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. local time with his security cabinet, which includes several of his government ministers and part of the military leadership, to discuss whether or not to launch a total occupation of the devastated Gaza Strip.

In recent days, the country's leading media outlets have leaked information that Netanyahu intends to propose to the security cabinet that the offensive be expanded, including to areas where the hostages are believed to be, and that the Palestinian enclave be completely occupied.

Despite the army's reluctance, according to Israeli Channel 12 on Thursday, troops are reportedly already preparing a plan that would involve several phases. In the first phase, troops would occupy Gaza City and force the displacement of the million Gazans concentrated in this northern city to the Mawasi area, which is already crowded with displaced people.

Israel is also said to seek control in a second phase of the refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip, where troop incursions have been limited. Israel estimates that hostages are being held alive at all of these locations.