Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Monday that Israel would gain full control over Gaza despite mounting international pressure, which led to the temporary lifting of a blockade that has pushed the enclave to the brink of famine.
The Israeli military launched a new operation on Friday and warned the residents of Khan Younis in southern Gaza to evacuate as it readied for an “unprecedented attack.” Netanyahu said in a video message, “We are going to control all parts of Gaza, but we must do it in a way that no one can stop us.” He added that Israel’s goals included securing the release of 58 hostages and dismantling Hamas.
As military operations escalated, aid trucks began moving toward northern Gaza. After international outcry over the blockade, Netanyahu reluctantly agreed to allow limited aid to enter the region.
Netanyahu acknowledged pressure from long-time Israeli allies, including U.S. senators, warning that the images of hunger were eroding vital support for Israel. “It’s a red line, and we might lose control if we don’t address it,” Netanyahu said, addressing far-right factions in his government who opposed aid to Gaza.
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 40 Palestinians on Monday, with 160 targets hit, including anti-tank positions and weapons caches as part of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.” One airstrike struck a school sheltering displaced families in Nuseirat, killing seven, while another hit a house in Deir Al-Balah, killing three.
Aid is now slowly entering Gaza, with 50 trucks, including flour, cooking oil, and legumes, entering the enclave, along with nine trucks carrying baby food.
In parallel, an Israeli undercover operation led to the killing of Ahmed Sarhan, a commander in the Popular Resistance Committees, an ally of Hamas, in Khan Younis. The force, disguised as displaced civilians, attacked Sarhan and detained his family before retreating under Israeli air cover.
Despite this, discussions for a ceasefire continue with little progress. The war has killed more than 53,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, since it began following a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages.