Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel plans to take full control of the Gaza Strip, as the military steps up its operations in the area. In a video message shared on Telegram, Netanyahu said the fighting in Gaza is strong, but Israeli forces are making progress. He said, “We will take control of the entire Gaza Strip. We will not stop until we reach our goal.”
He also said that allowing a small amount of food into Gaza was important for “diplomatic reasons” and to avoid famine. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it has started large-scale ground attacks against Hamas. Airstrikes in the area have killed at least 22 people. Israel is facing growing international pressure over the war, even from its main allies.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Gaza’s population must not be allowed to fall into famine, not only for practical reasons but also to maintain support from other countries. He warned that even Israel’s allies would not accept seeing “images of mass starvation.” Earlier this month, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a group supported by the UN and aid organizations, stated that Gaza is at serious risk of famine. The report said that 22% of people in Gaza are facing a major humanitarian crisis.
About the Israel-Hamas war
The war between Israel and Hamas started on October 7, 2023. On that day, Hamas attacked Israel by land, sea, and air from the Gaza Strip. Over 1,200 people, mostly Israelis, were killed, and more than 240 were taken as hostages. It was the deadliest day for Israel since the country was formed.
The next day, Israel declared war for the first time since 1973. The Israeli military began airstrikes on Gaza and later sent in ground troops and tanks. In early 2025, there was a short break in fighting, and some hostages were exchanged. But talks for a longer ceasefire failed, and the war continued. By May 2025, over 52,000 people in Gaza had been killed, and about two-thirds of the buildings there were damaged or destroyed.