Netanyahu defends Gaza City takeover as UN warns of ‘calamity’ and international condemnation grows
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending Israel’s plan to take control of Gaza City as the only way to fully defeat Hamas, stating that Israel does not intend to occupy but rather to “free Gaza” from Hamas militants, while insisting the operation is intended to end the war quickly. The move comes amid intense international condemnation and a strong warning from the United Nations that such a step risks triggering “another calamity” with further mass displacement, casualties, and worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Netanyahu addressed foreign journalists ahead of an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting, pushing back against what he calls a “global campaign of lies” and asserting that reports of malnourished children in Gaza are “fabricated”.
His government’s goal, Netanyahu said, is to demilitarize Gaza, ensure overriding Israeli security control, and eventually have a non-Israeli civilian administration in place.
The United Nations’ Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, have repeatedly warned the Security Council that a full military takeover of Gaza City would likely violate international law, inflict further suffering, and escalate the conflict—calling instead for immediate de-escalation and unfettered humanitarian aid delivery.
Several European states and other international voices, including Canada, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, have joined the condemnation, warning that Israel’s plan will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation, risk more deaths, and cause further mass displacement, including further endangering the lives of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Netanyahu claims the operation has a “fairly short timetable” and insists that the war can end if Hamas surrenders and all hostages are released, but he faces not only international pressure but also growing domestic opposition, including protests and calls for a general strike inside Israel over his Gaza strategy.
The U.S. remains an outlier on the Security Council, continuing to shield Israel from direct UN censure for now.
Netanyahu maintains that the Gaza City takeover is a military necessity to eliminate Hamas, but the UN and the broader international community warn it could lead to another major humanitarian disaster, and global calls for restraint and a ceasefire are intensifying.
