Netanyahu would go for total control of Gaza

Jerusalem. Israel must "totally defeat" Hamas in Gaza to secure the release of the hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday, as he held a security meeting before speaking about the next phase of the war in the Palestinian territory.

"We must completely defeat the enemy in Gaza, free all our hostages, and ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said during a visit to a military base.

In the afternoon, Netanyahu met for nearly three hours with the army chief of staff, who "presented him with options for continuing operations in Gaza," according to the prime minister's intelligence.

According to Israeli media, citing officials who requested anonymity, "Netanyahu wants the Israeli army to conquer the entire Gaza Strip," Kan public radio reported.

Like other media outlets, the Maariv daily highlighted that this decision would mean the army "will begin fighting in areas" where it had refrained from doing so in recent months "for fear of harming the hostages, including refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip."

Media speculation is rife about a possible opposition from Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir.

Several cabinet members confirmed that the prime minister "decided to extend the fight to areas where hostages may be held," according to the broadcaster.

The United Nations has described as "deeply alarming" reports of a possible decision by Israel to expand its military operations to the entire Gaza Strip, if true.

Israel's coalition government is considered one of the most right-wing in its history. It includes parties that seek to annex both Gaza and the West Bank and encourage Palestinians to leave their homeland.

“Catastrophic consequences”

UN Deputy Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza that such a move "would have catastrophic consequences... and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza."

"International law is clear on this: Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state," he added.

Similarly, the Security Council held a meeting yesterday dedicated to the issue of the Israeli hostages in Gaza, at the initiative of Israel, which expressed its desire to place this issue "at the center" of the international agenda.

US President Donald Trump expressed outrage yesterday over videos released by Hamas showing an emaciated Israeli hostage allegedly digging his own grave.

"I hope a lot of people see it, no matter how bad it is, because I think it's a horrible thing," Trump told reporters.

Regarding the food shortage, Israel imposed a complete blockade on Gaza on March 2 and partially lifted it in May, allowing only very limited quantities of food to enter, deemed insufficient by the UN.

Israel's seizure of the entire territory would mean reversing its 2005 decision to withdraw settlers and the army from Gaza while maintaining control over its borders.