The solar units over the Gaza Strip as pictured from a place alongside the border with the besieged Palestinian territory in southern Israel on August 10, 2025. Agence France-Presse
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his plan to take management of Gaza Metropolis and goal the remaining Hamas strongholds, saying Sunday it was “the easiest way to finish the conflict”, regardless of rising calls to cease the combating.
Greater than 22 months into the conflict, sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented assault on Israel, the nation is gripped by a yawning divide pitting these demanding an finish to the battle and a deal for the discharge of the hostages in opposition to others who need to see the Palestinian militants vanquished as soon as and for all.
Criticism has solely intensified after Netanyahu’s safety cupboard introduced plans to broaden the battle and seize Gaza Metropolis.
READ: Israel plans to ‘take management’ of Gaza Metropolis, sparking wave of criticism
Netanyahu was defiant on Sunday, telling journalists: “That is the easiest way to finish the conflict, and the easiest way to finish it speedily.”
Throughout a press convention in Jerusalem, he mentioned the brand new operation can be carried out on “a reasonably quick timetable”.
The operation will goal “to dismantle the 2 remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza Metropolis and the central camps”, whereas establishing safe corridors and protected zones to permit civilians to depart the realm.
“Israel has no selection however to complete the job and full the defeat of Hamas. Now, we’ve executed an amazing deal. We now have about 70 to 75 p.c of Gaza below Israeli management, army management,” he mentioned.
READ: Al Jazeera says 5 journalists killed in Israeli strike in Gaza
“However we’ve two remaining strongholds, OK? These are Gaza Metropolis and the central camps in Al Mawasi.”
A Hamas spokesperson later known as the prime minister’s feedback a “collection of lies”.
‘Simply one other plan’
In Gaza, an Israeli strike on Sunday killed 5 Al Jazeera journalists, together with a distinguished reporter, in accordance with the Qatar-based broadcaster.
The assault was the newest to see journalists focused in Gaza, with round 200 media employees killed over the course of the battle, in accordance with media watchdogs.
Over the weekend, 1000’s of individuals took to the streets in Tel Aviv to protest the safety cupboard’s choice.
“The brand new plan is simply one other plan that’s gonna fail, and it may very properly be the top of our hostages, and naturally, it can take most likely extra lives of our troopers,” protester Joel Obodov informed AFP.
Netanyahu has confronted common protests over the course of the conflict, with many rallies calling for the federal government to strike a ceasefire and hostage-release deal after previous truces noticed captives exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.
Netanyahu, nevertheless, has additionally come below stress from the far proper to go more durable on Hamas, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich slamming the brand new plan as half-hearted.
“They determined as soon as once more to repeat the identical strategy, embarking on a army operation that doesn’t goal for a decisive decision,” Smotrich mentioned.
The far-right members of Netanyahu’s cupboard, together with Smotrich, have maintained appreciable affect within the coalition authorities all through the conflict — with their assist seen as important to holding a minimum of 61 seats for a parliamentary majority.
Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, additionally of the far proper, informed Kan radio on Sunday: “It’s attainable to realize victory. I need all of Gaza, switch and colonization. This plan is not going to endanger the troops.”
‘We’ll win’
The cupboard’s choice to broaden the conflict touched off a wave of criticism throughout the globe.
“If these plans are carried out, they may possible set off one other calamity in Gaza, reverberating throughout the area and inflicting additional pressured displacement, killings and destruction,” UN Assistant Secretary-Common Miroslav Jenca informed a Safety Council assembly on Sunday.
International powers, together with a few of Israel’s allies, have been pushing for a truce to safe the hostages’ return and alleviate a humanitarian disaster, following repeated warnings of famine taking maintain.
Regardless of the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli army high brass, Netanyahu has remained agency.
“We’ll win the conflict, with or with out the assist of others,” he informed the press on Sunday.
“Our aim is to not occupy Gaza, however to determine a civilian administration within the Strip that isn’t affiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority,” he mentioned.
The premier’s workplace later mentioned he had spoken by telephone with US President Donald Trump to debate the brand new army plans.
Out of 251 hostages captured throughout Hamas’s 2023 assault, 49 are nonetheless being held in Gaza, together with 27 the army says are useless.
Israel’s offensive has killed a minimum of 61,430 Palestinians, in accordance with Gaza’s well being ministry, figures the United Nations says are dependable.
In response to Gaza’s civil protection company, a minimum of 27 individuals have been killed by Israeli hearth throughout the territory Sunday, together with 11 who have been ready close to assist distribution facilities.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
Hamas’s 2023 assault on Israel, which triggered the conflict, resulted within the deaths of 1,219 individuals, in accordance with an AFP tally based mostly on official figures. /dl
