Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended plans for an expanded military offensive in Gaza, saying Israel has “no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.” Speaking to foreign media in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said the goal was not to occupy Gaza, but to “free” it, with a short timetable in mind for next steps.
He outlined three objectives: demilitarising Gaza, maintaining Israeli “overriding security control,” and establishing a non-Israeli civilian administration. Netanyahu also said he had instructed the military to allow more foreign journalists into Gaza under Israeli supervision — a notable shift, as press access has been heavily restricted since the conflict began.
Civilian Deaths as Offensive Expands
The latest violence comes amid reports that at least 26 Palestinians were killed while seeking aid in Gaza. Hospitals said victims died along food convoy routes or at aid distribution points. Witnesses in central Gaza described warning shots followed by live fire at crowds attempting to reach a food distribution site.
Seven more people were killed in separate airstrikes, including two children in Khan Younis. The Israeli military has not commented on the strikes but has repeatedly accused Hamas of operating from civilian areas.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Gaza’s health ministry says over 61,400 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, with roughly half being women and children. The territory is facing famine conditions, and more than 100 children have died from malnutrition-related causes since the conflict started.
The worsening humanitarian situation has fuelled calls within Israel and abroad to halt the planned Gaza City takeover. Families of hostages still held in Gaza have urged a general strike, warning that expanding the war endangers their loved ones.
Hostage Families and Protests
Of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, about 50 remain in Gaza, with Israel believing around 20 are still alive. Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday, in one of the largest anti-government protests in recent months, demanding the government prioritise hostage negotiations over military escalation.
West Bank Operations Continue
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Israel Katz toured the northern West Bank, saying Israeli forces will remain in refugee camps there until at least the end of the year. Israel’s military operations in the territory have displaced about 40,000 Palestinians in 2025 — the largest such displacement since 1967. Katz claimed the number of attack warnings in the West Bank has dropped by 80% since operations began in January.
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