The families denounced Netanyahu’s plan to expand military operations. Yehuda Cohen, the father of Nimrod Cohen, an Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza, said from the boat that Netanyahu is prolonging the war to satisfy extremists in his government and to prevent it from collapsing.

The new pressure on Netanyahu came as Gaza's Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll had surpassed 61,000.

Netanyahu will convene the security cabinet following a three-hour meeting this week with the head of the military, which Israeli officials described as tense, saying the military chief had pushed back on expanding the campaign.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet is expected to meet on Thursday to finalise a decision on the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza, despite serious misgivings from senior military officers.

Israel's plan to occupy Gaza is reportedly set to begin with the evacuation of Gaza City, where almost 1 million people leave. According to Israeli outlet Channel 12 reported Amit Segal, the plan will be presented to the security cabinet for approval on Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided that the IDF will move forward with a plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.