Netanyahu Defies Warnings Over Taking Military Control of All Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel intends to take military control of all of Gaza, in defiance of warnings that such a move would lead to countless more Palestinian deaths, increase mass displacement and endanger Israeli hostages who are still being held in the territory.

- Lorenzo Tondo

Before a security cabinet meeting to discuss Gaza's future last night, the prime minister insisted Israel did not want to ultimately govern the territory and would give that responsibility to friendly Arab nations.

Asked in an interview with Fox News if Israel would "take control of all of Gaza", Netanyahu replied: "We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza."

The security cabinet would need to approve such a decision.

"We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter," Netanyahu said. "We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life."

In Gaza, where Israel's air and ground war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and caused a famine, Palestinians were braced for further misery. "There is nothing left to occupy," said Maysaa al-Heila, who is living in a displacement camp. "There is no Gaza left."

Aya Mohammad, a 30-year-old Palestinian who, after repeated displacement, had returned with her family to Gaza City, said: "Where should we go? We have been displaced and humiliated enough. You know what displacement is? Does the world know? It means your dignity is wiped out, you become a homeless beggar, searching for food, water and medicine."

At least 42 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shootings across southern Gaza yesterday, according to local hospitals.