Netanyahu vows to 'finish job' with Gaza takeover plan

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas”, as he addressed foreign media in Jerusalem.

- WAFAA SHURAFA SAM METZ SAMY MAGDY

Defending a planned military offensive, Mr Netanyahu asserted that “our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza”. He also pushed back against what he called a “global campaign of lies” amid growing condemnation of the plan both inside and outside Israel.

Mr Netanyahu remarked that chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, one of Israel’s strongest backers, had “buckled under” by announcing that Germany won’t authorise exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza until further notice.

The prime minister outlined a “fairly short timetable” for the next steps in Gaza. He stated that Israel’s objectives include demilitarising the territory, ensuring the Israeli military has “overriding security control”, and establishing a non-Israeli civilian administration.

In a striking development, Mr Netanyahu revealed he had recently directed Israel’s military to “bring in more foreign journalists”. This marks a significant shift, as foreign media have not typically been allowed into Gaza beyond military embeds.

He again blamed the Hamas militant group for many of Gaza’s problems, including civilian deaths, destruction, and shortages of aid. “Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists in Gaza,” he asserted, adding that Palestinians are “begging” the world to be freed from them. The prime minister, who has asserted that there is “no starvation in Gaza”, did acknowledge hunger there, saying, “There was a problem with deprivation, no question about it.” Israel wants to increase the number of aid distribution sites, he said, but gave no details.

At least 26 Palestinians were killed while seeking aid in the Gaza Strip, hospitals and witnesses said, as families of Israeli hostages called for a general strike to protest Mr Netanyahu’s plans to expand military operations in the territory.