Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he expects a new military offensive in Gaza to begin “fairly quickly,” despite mounting international calls to end civilian suffering in the war-ravaged enclave.
Netanyahu’s remarks came days after his security cabinet approved a widely criticised plan to seize control of Gaza City. Speaking to reporters, he said defeating Hamas and freeing hostages left Israel no choice but to “complete the job.”
“We want, first of all, to enable safe zones to be established so the civilian population of Gaza City can move out,” he said. “The timeline that we set for the action is fairly quickly.”
Netanyahu also spoke Sunday with US President Donald Trump about Israel’s intention to move on the remaining Hamas strongholds. His office later said the prime minister thanked Trump “for his steadfast support of Israel.”
Earlier, Netanyahu said the upcoming offensive was necessary because of Hamas’s refusal to disarm. Hamas has insisted it will not lay down arms unless an independent Palestinian state is established.
It was not clear when the offensive, which would be the latest in successive attempts by the Israeli military to clear the militants from Gaza City, would begin.
NO PLANS FOR PERMANENT OCCUPATION, NETANYAHU SAYS
While Israel has steadily expanded its military control over parts of Gaza, Netanyahu said he does not intend to occupy the entire territory.
“We want a security belt right next to our border, but we don’t want to stay in Gaza. That’s not our purpose,” he said.
However, Israel’s military chief has cautioned against a full occupation, warning it could prolong the conflict, jeopardize remaining hostages, and draw Israeli troops into deadly guerrilla warfare.
The city, once home to a million residents, is now nearly unrecognisable. Though Israel says it will move civilians into “safe zones,” Palestinians argue those areas have failed to offer protection in previous stages of the conflict.
UN, EUROPEAN POWERS WARN OF WORSENING CRISIS
As Netanyahu prepares for the new assault, international pressure on Israel is intensifying.
European members of the United Nations warned that any expansion of military operations will worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
“Expanding military operations will only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages, and result in further unnecessary suffering,” said Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom in a joint statement.
“This is a manmade crisis, and therefore urgent action is needed to halt starvation and to surge aid into Gaza,” they added.
The US representative at the Security Council defended Israel’s position and reiterated Washington’s commitment to freeing hostages, delivering humanitarian aid, and achieving peace.
Netanyahu said his government is working closely with Washington to increase aid flow into Gaza, including through land crossings.
AID DROPS AND DEATHS FROM STARVATION MOUNTS
Gaza’s health ministry reported that five more people, including two children died of malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of starvation-related deaths to 217, including 100 children.
Due to severe access constraints, some countries have resorted to airdropping aid, but the method has proven fatal in several cases. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said 23 people have died as a result of aid airdrops since the war began.
In the latest incident, a parachuted aid box struck and killed a 14-year-old boy who was waiting for food in a tent camp in central Gaza, according to medics and a video verified by Reuters.
“We have repeatedly warned of the dangers of these inhumane methods and have consistently called for the safe and sufficient delivery of aid through land crossings, especially food, infant formula, medicines, and medical supplies,” the media office said.
Israel denies restricting humanitarian aid, blaming Hamas for the crisis. It says large amounts of assistance have been distributed but that militants interfere with aid efforts.
ITALY WARNS OF PROLONGED WAR
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cautioned Israel against deepening its military presence in Gaza. “The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers,” Tajani said in an interview with Il Messaggero.
Israel’s military already controls large parts of Gaza but has not succeeded in dislodging Hamas entirely.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Authorities now believe 20 of the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza are still alive.
Since then, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza health officials, and vast areas of the territory lie in ruins.
– Ends
With inputs from Reuters
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