Is Netanyahu's Gaza City Takeover Plan the Key to Ending the War?

Tel Aviv/New Delhi, Aug 10 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stood by his government’s controversial initiative to gain full military control of Gaza City, asserting it is the fastest and most effective way to conclude the ongoing conflict. During a press conference, Netanyahu emphasized that Hamas’s persistent refusal to disarm has left Israel with no choice but to advance its military operations.

“With Hamas unwilling to relinquish their weapons, Israel must complete its mission to eliminate Hamas,” he stated, noting that Israeli troops already occupy 70–75 percent of Gaza.

The plan has met with significant backlash from the international community, including criticism from some of Israel's closest Western allies, who are concerned about humanitarian implications.

Netanyahu, however, dismissed these concerns as “false claims”, maintaining that the military operation aims not only to swiftly defeat Hamas but also to reduce civilian casualties.

He assured that civilians would be provided safe passage to designated areas where they would access food, water, and medical assistance. He reiterated Israel’s commitment to preventing a humanitarian crisis, in stark contrast to what he accused Hamas of doing to create one.

Highlighting Israel’s efforts in humanitarian aid, Netanyahu claimed that nearly two million tonnes of supplies have been allowed into Gaza since the conflict began.

“If we had a starvation policy, no one in Gaza would have survived after two years of war,” he asserted.

He also mentioned ongoing discussions with the United States to introduce more humanitarian measures, which include expanding aid deliveries through ground routes and airdrops, as well as increasing the capacity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s distribution points.

Netanyahu expressed hope that international organizations—possibly including the United Nations—would participate in these efforts, although he criticized the UN’s previous actions in Gaza.

In a particularly provocative statement, Netanyahu claimed that the only individuals being deliberately starved in Gaza are the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

He accused global media of using distorted information and statistics from Hamas, labeling images of starving children as manipulated or fake.

He cautioned that such vilification campaigns often lead to violence against Jews, drawing historical parallels. “Every massacre of the Jewish people was preceded by massive vilification,” he remarked.