Netanyahu Vows Full Control Over Gaza
Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will take full control of the Gaza Strip and defended his decision to resume the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave.
Gaza on brink of famine as blockade tIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel would take full control of the Gaza Strip as part of its ongoing military campaign while also resuming limited humanitarian aid to the enclave.
In a video statement alongside his adviser Topaz Luk, Netanyahu emphasized the need to avoid famine, saying, “Substantively and diplomatically, we won’t have support, and we won’t be able to complete the mission of victory.”
U.S. Pressure Drives Policy Shift
Netanyahu’s decision to resume aid comes after intense internal government debates and pressure from U.S. allies, including President Donald Trump and senior Republican lawmakers, who warned that images of mass starvation could undermine international backing for the war effort.
“Even our strongest supporters told me, ‘We can give you weapons, support at the U.N., help in defeating Hamas. But one thing we can’t support is mass starvation,’”
— Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel initially approved limited aid deliveries to Gaza earlier in the conflict but halted them after accusing Hamas of looting supplies. Under the new plan, Israel will establish secure distribution points controlled by the military to prevent Hamas from accessing critical food and medical supplies. These secure zones, coordinated with the U.S., are expected to be operational after May 24.
