Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, May 19, that Israel will "take control" of the whole of Gaza, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory. After Israel announced it would let a "basic amount" of food into the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said it was necessary to prevent a famine for "diplomatic reasons."
In Gaza, rescuers said air strikes killed at least 22 people, after the military announced it had begun "extensive ground operations" against Hamas. "The fighting is intense and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip," Netanyahu said in a video posted on Telegram. "We will not give up. But in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped."
The Israeli army told Gazans in the main southern city of Khan Yunis and the nearby areas of Bani Suheila and Abasan to "evacuate immediately" on Monday ahead of an attack. The army "will launch an unprecedented attack to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations in this area," Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram. "You must evacuate immediately to the west to the Mawasi area. From this moment, Khan Yunis will be considered a dangerous combat zone."
Israel has come under mounting international pressure, including from key backer the United States, to lift a total blockade it imposed on Gaza more than two months ago. "We must not let the population (of Gaza) sink into famine, both for practical and diplomatic reasons," Netanyahu said, adding that even friends of Israel would not tolerate "images of mass starvation."
In a report this month, the UN- and NGO-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said Gaza was at "critical risk of famine", with 22% of the population facing an imminent humanitarian "catastrophe." Israel said its blockade since March 2 was aimed at forcing concessions from the Palestinian militant group, but UN agencies have warned of critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicines. Last week, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that "a lot of people are starving", adding "we're going to get that taken care of."
Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir argued against any resumption of aid, posting on X: "Mr Prime Minister, our hostages receive no humanitarian aid."
"The Prime Minister is making a serious mistake in this move, and he has no majority at all. Hamas must only be crushed, and not at the same time provided with oxygen for its survival," he said in a statement.
Netanyahu's office also mentioned ongoing talks in Doha, saying negotiators were "working to exhaust every possibility for a deal – whether according to the Witkoff framework or as part of ending the fighting." Steve Witkoff is the US Middle East envoy who has been involved in discussions. Since a two-month ceasefire collapsed in March as Israel resumed its offensive, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have failed to make a breakthrough.