Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday insisted that Israel’s objective in Gaza is liberation from Hamas rule, not long-term occupation, as he addressed media ahead of an emergency UN Security Council meeting.
"Gazans are begging us and begging the world to be freed from Hamas," Netanyahu said, calling the militant group a "genocidal organisation" committed to Israel’s destruction. "No nation would put up with an entity committed to its annihilation a stone’s throw away from its border," he added.
Netanyahu outlined that the war could end if Hamas released all hostages and laid down its arms. He accused the group of still having "thousands of armed terrorists" in Gaza and said Israel’s military plans are aimed at dismantling this threat.
Netanyahu said that Gaza will be demilitarised and outlined the Israel's five principles to conclude the war:
The prime minister also vowed to "puncture the lies" surrounding Israel’s intentions in Gaza City, blasting the "global campaign of lies" around Israel's intentions.
Netanyahu also dismissed charges that Israel is deliberately starving Gaza’s population, saying such claims are “baseless.”
“If Israel had a starvation policy, no one in Gaza would have survived after two years of war,” Netanyahu said. He noted that “hundreds of trucks” carrying food, water and medical supplies have entered the territory and that civilians are being directed to designated safe zones away from combat.
“We will ensure the civilian population can leave combat areas safely, and we will provide them with the essentials, as we have done before,” he said. Netanyahu added that Israel has sent millions of text messages and made phone calls to warn residents to evacuate danger zones.
His remarks come as the UN Security Council prepares to discuss Israel’s plan to expand its military presence in Gaza amid ongoing international concern over the humanitarian situation.
"Gazans are begging us and begging the world to be freed from Hamas," Netanyahu said, calling the militant group a "genocidal organisation" committed to Israel’s destruction. "No nation would put up with an entity committed to its annihilation a stone’s throw away from its border," he added.
Netanyahu outlined that the war could end if Hamas released all hostages and laid down its arms. He accused the group of still having "thousands of armed terrorists" in Gaza and said Israel’s military plans are aimed at dismantling this threat.
Netanyahu said that Gaza will be demilitarised and outlined the Israel's five principles to conclude the war:
- The disarmament of Hamas
- Return of all hostages
- Demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip
- Israel taking "overriding security control" in the Strip
- Establishment of an "alternative civil administration" that is not Hamas or the Palestinian Authority
The prime minister also vowed to "puncture the lies" surrounding Israel’s intentions in Gaza City, blasting the "global campaign of lies" around Israel's intentions.
Netanyahu also dismissed charges that Israel is deliberately starving Gaza’s population, saying such claims are “baseless.”
“If Israel had a starvation policy, no one in Gaza would have survived after two years of war,” Netanyahu said. He noted that “hundreds of trucks” carrying food, water and medical supplies have entered the territory and that civilians are being directed to designated safe zones away from combat.
“We will ensure the civilian population can leave combat areas safely, and we will provide them with the essentials, as we have done before,” he said. Netanyahu added that Israel has sent millions of text messages and made phone calls to warn residents to evacuate danger zones.
His remarks come as the UN Security Council prepares to discuss Israel’s plan to expand its military presence in Gaza amid ongoing international concern over the humanitarian situation.
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