Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel will “take control” of the whole of Gaza, as military operations intensified in the war-torn region. The Israeli military launched expanded ground operations and heavy air strikes in an ongoing campaign against Hamas, signaling a major escalation in the conflict.
The military urged civilians in the southern city of Khan Yunis and nearby areas to evacuate immediately ahead of what it called an “unprecedented attack.” The call followed a series of air raids that reportedly killed at least 22 people in the city and surrounding areas on Monday. Israel’s forces said they targeted “160 terror sites” in Gaza in the past 24 hours.
“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 message posted on Telegram, confirming Israel’s goal to fully conquer Gaza. Earlier this month, Israel had approved plans for an expanded offensive aimed at defeating Hamas and displacing its people from Gaza.
Netanyahu noted that despite international pressure, including from the United States, Israel will continue its operations. “We will not give up. But in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped,” he said. He also acknowledged concerns over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying, “We must not let the population (of Gaza) sink into famine, both for practical and diplomatic reasons.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn warnings from the World Health Organization and UN agencies, which say that two million people are facing starvation due to a blockade that has cut off food, water, fuel, and medicine supplies since early March. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Two million people are starving” while aid supplies remain stuck at the border.
Despite these warnings, some Israeli officials, including far-right ministers, oppose fully reopening aid channels. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich supported allowing limited aid, saying it would help civilians and maintain international support for Israel’s position, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir opposed any aid while hostages remain captive.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll. Gaza’s health ministry reported over 3,000 deaths since March 18, with the overall war death toll now exceeding 53,000. The October Hamas attack that triggered the war killed more than 1,200 Israelis and resulted in over 250 hostages taken by Hamas, many of whom remain captive or dead.
Residents in Gaza express deep exhaustion and desperation amid the relentless fighting and heavy casualties. “Enough is enough. A solution must be found, and the world must intervene,” said Ayman Badwan, a Gaza resident mourning his brother’s death.
