By bnm Gulf bureau Israel's Security Cabinet has approved Defence Minister Israel Katz's proposal to establish an administration within the Defence Ministry to facilitate the 'voluntary departure' of Gaza residents to third countries,

Israel says new directorate will work to ‘prepare for and enable safe and controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries'

This administration will work to enable safe & controlled passage of Gaza residents for their voluntary departure to third countries, including securing their movement.

Israeli strikes across the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 26 Palestinians overnight into Sunday, including a Hamas political leader and several women and children. Residents said tanks had advanced into an area of the southern city of Rafah as the military ordered it evacuated.

Israeli strikes across the southern Gaza Strip killed at least 26 Palestinians overnight, including a Hamas political leader, as the military ordered new evacuations in the southern city of Rafah.

The number of people killed in Gaza in the last 18 months has now passed 50,000, the Health Ministry in the territory announced on March 23.