Israel is moving ahead to take ‘full control’ of Gaza, says Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, adding there is large-scale military activity right now aimed at that goal.
Here’s the report via NBC News:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that his country’s military was “moving toward full control” of the Gaza Strip as its intensifying airstrikes and ground operation there killed dozens more people overnight.
It was in his statement Monday that Netanyahu said that “there is intensive and large-scale military activity in Gaza” and that the Israeli military was “moving toward full control of the entire Strip.”
Israel says the operation is aimed at defeating Hamas and ensuring the return of the remaining hostages of the 250 taken captive during the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which around 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli counts.
In a statement Monday, Hamas said that the Israeli military had launched “hundreds of highly destructive shells, missiles, and bombs daily, targeting residential neighborhoods and densely populated civilian areas.”
The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that it had struck 160 of what it called “terror targets” in the past 24 hours.
The attacks come as international aid groups have repeatedly warned in recent weeks of the risk of famine in Gaza after the Israeli government maintained a complete aid blockade since March 2.
Netanyahu has also addressed the humanitarian aid concerns, saying they will allow more aid into the strip to prevent famine:
In a statement Monday, Gaza’s Hamas-run government urged the international community to pressure Israel to allow the entry of at least 500 aid trucks and 50 fuel trucks daily, adding that “signs of famine and humanitarian collapse are worsening at a terrifying rate.”
That came after the Israeli government announced plans Sunday that, if actioned, would end its 11-week aid blockade of Gaza and allow in “basic” quantities of food. Netanyahu doubled down Monday on his decision, responding on Telegram to critics from Israel’s political right wing.
“There is a lot of criticism from the right this morning regarding the humanitarian issue — and that’s understandable. But it’s important to know the facts,” he said, adding that “we must avoid a situation of famine, both in substance and in perception.”
“If there is famine,” he added, “we will lose international support and won’t be able to achieve victory.”
It’s long past time this war ended. Even if Hamas refuses to release the remaining hostages, Israel needs to take back control of the Gaza Strip and exterminate Hamas along the way. It must be done.