Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a deliberate navy offensive into Gaza Metropolis, saying Israel “has no alternative however to complete the job and full the defeat of Hamas.”
Talking to international media in Jerusalem, Netanyahu asserted that Israel’s purpose was to not occupy Gaza, however to “free Gaza.”
The Israeli chief mentioned there’s a “pretty quick timetable” in thoughts for the following steps in Gaza.
The targets in Gaza, he mentioned, embrace demilitarizing the enclave, sustaining the Israeli navy’s “overriding safety management” and placing a non-Israeli civilian administration in cost.
The information convention got here two days after Israel’s Safety Cupboard permitted a plan for the Israeli navy to take over Gaza Metropolis. The transfer sparked condemnation inside and out of doors Israel, and fears that the plan would exacerbate the Gaza Strip’s humanitarian issues and put the remaining residing hostages held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, in additional hazard.
“We’ll win the warfare, with or with out the help of others,” Netanyahu mentioned.
Abir Sultan/Pool Photograph through AP
Netanyahu’s handle got here simply earlier than the United Nations Safety Council holds an emergency assembly on Israel’s plan to take management of Gaza Metropolis.
The prime minister mentioned the plan permitted by his Safety Cupboard instructs the Israel Protection Forces to dismantle the final two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza Metropolis and the central camps, whereas Palestinians are funneled into “secure zones” with meals and medical care.
“That is one of the best ways to finish the warfare and one of the best ways to finish it speedily,” he mentioned.
Netanyahu additionally mentioned he had directed Israel’s navy in latest days to “deliver in additional international journalists” — which may very well be a putting improvement as their entry to Gaza has been restricted.
He mentioned he has not but spoken to President Trump in regards to the plan, however intends to “very quickly.” U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff is assembly with the Qatari prime minister in Spain this weekend, with the primary purpose being a dialogue of creating “workable” a brand new joint Egyptian-Qatari proposal on the return of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, CBS Information has reported.
Two Arab officers informed the Related Press that the brand new ceasefire framework would come with the discharge of all hostages — lifeless and residing — all of sudden in return for the warfare’s finish and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Extra Palestinians killed as they search assist in Gaza
Not less than 26 Palestinians had been killed whereas searching for assist within the Gaza Strip within the final day, hospitals and witnesses informed the Related Press.
Hospital officers mentioned they acquired our bodies from areas the place Palestinians had been searching for assist — both alongside meals convoy routes or close to privately run assist distribution factors throughout Gaza.
The lifeless embrace 10 who had been killed whereas ready for assist vans near the newly constructed Morag hall, which separates the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, mentioned Nasser hospital.
An additional six folks had been killed whereas ready for assist in northern Gaza close to the Zikim crossing, in response to the Hamas-run Gaza Well being Ministry and the Shifa hospital in Gaza Metropolis, which acquired the casualties.
Abdel Kareem Hana / AP 
Six different assist seekers had been killed whereas attempting to succeed in websites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Basis in Khan Younis and Rafah, Nasser hospital mentioned.
Responding to Related Press inquiries, the GHF media workplace mentioned: “There have been no incidents at or close to our websites right now and these incidents look like linked to crowds attempting to loot assist convoy.”
Israel’s navy additionally mentioned there have been no incidents involving Israeli troops close to central Gaza assist websites.
Throughout his press convention, Netanyahu blamed Hamas for its position within the ongoing humanitarian disaster, together with civilian deaths, destruction and shortages of assist.
“Hamas nonetheless has 1000’s of armed terrorists in Gaza,” he asserted, including that Palestinians are “begging” the world to be free of them.
The prime minister, who has asserted that there’s “no hunger in Gaza,” did acknowledge starvation there, saying, “there was an issue with deprivation, no query about it.” Israel desires to extend the variety of assist distribution websites, he mentioned, however gave no particulars.
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