Netanyahu: full Israeli control of Gaza amid escalation

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced on 19th May that Israel intends to assume full control of the Gaza Strip, as military operations in the enclave intensify. The statement follows a renewed wave of air strikes targeting the besieged Palestinian territory.

According to Middle East Eye, Netanyahu made the declaration in a video address concerning the imminent entry of a limited number of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza — the first such delivery in nearly two months. He framed the move as a calculated effort to avert mounting international condemnation.

“The fighting is intense, and we are making progress. We’re going to take control of the entire Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu asserted in the video message, which was shared via his official Telegram channel.

He emphasised that while Israel remained resolute in its objectives, it needed to proceed in a manner that would not be derailed by external pressure.

“We must not let the population of Gaza sink into famine, both for practical and diplomatic reasons,” he said.

Netanyahu disclosed that close international allies — including the United States, a key supporter of Israel — had urged him to permit some level of humanitarian assistance in order to mitigate the risk of damaging global backlash.

“Our best friends in the world, senators who are passionate supporters of Israel, came to me and said they would provide all the assistance needed to achieve victory: weapons, backing for eliminating Hamas, and protection at the UN Security Council,” he explained.

“But there’s one thing they said they cannot support: images of mass starvation. ‘We cannot stand by you in that situation,’ they told me. So, in order to achieve victory, we must address that problem.”

The remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has drawn growing concern over civilian suffering and the region’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

As diplomatic tensions rise, observers say the balancing act between pursuing military goals and maintaining international support is becoming increasingly delicate for Netanyahu’s government.

Middle East Eye/ BBC/ Reuters/ Maghrebi.org