Hamas calls Benjamin Netanyahu's intention of taking over Gaza a ‘coup': ‘To serve his personal interest'
This comes amid Netanyahu stating that Israel intends to take over Gaza in order to 'ensure our security'
'Netanyahu's plans to expand Israel's Gaza offensive show his aim is to sacrifice Israel's own hostages to serve his personal interests,' Hamas added in its statement.
Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 in the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. Since the start of the war, tens of thousands of Palestinians living in Gaza have been killed in the Israeli offensive, and the strip has come to the brink of starvation, according to major world bodies, including the United Nations.
Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals, but 50 remain inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive.
What did Benjamin Netanyahu say about taking control of Gaza?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that to destroy Hamas, Israel intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip and eventually transfer its administration to friendly Arab forces, as the Security Cabinet discussed a widening of its 22-month offensive.
Asked in an interview with Fox News if Israel would 'take control of all of Gaza,' Netanyahu replied: 'We intend to, in order to assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza.'
"We don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life,' Netanyahu said in the interview.
An Israeli official had earlier said the Security Cabinet would hold a lengthy debate and approve an expanded military plan to conquer all or parts of Gaza not yet under Israeli control.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that whatever is approved would be implemented gradually to increase pressure on Hamas.
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Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
UP Monsoon Session begins today, set to be stormy
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Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Breaking news live, August 11: Air India flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi diverted to Chennai
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Netanyahu said there would be 'safe zones," but such designated areas have been bombed in the past. Rejecting starvation in Gaza as well as a 'global campaign of lies," Netanyahu spoke to foreign media just before an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, a global platform for outrage but little action on the war. 'Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza,' Netanyahu asserted. He said Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, one of Israel's strongest backers, had 'buckled under' the growing international criticism by stopping exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Merz, for his part, told public broadcaster ARD that Germany and Israel were talking 'very critically' but Berlin's overall policies of friendship haven't changed. Netanyahu said there is a 'fairly short timetable' for next steps in Gaza, but didn't give specifics. 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India Today
29 minutes ago
- India Today
Complete the job: Netanyahu vows to launch Gaza offensive 'fairly quickly'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he expects a new military offensive in Gaza to begin "fairly quickly," despite mounting international calls to end civilian suffering in the war-ravaged remarks came days after his security cabinet approved a widely criticised plan to seize control of Gaza City. Speaking to reporters, he said defeating Hamas and freeing hostages left Israel no choice but to "complete the job."advertisement"We want, first of all, to enable safe zones to be established so the civilian population of Gaza City can move out," he said. "The timeline that we set for the action is fairly quickly."Our goal is not to occupy Gaza. Our goal is to free Gaza from Hamas my Press conference with foreign media >> Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) August 10, 2025 Netanyahu also spoke Sunday with US President Donald Trump about Israel's intention to move on the remaining Hamas strongholds. His office later said the prime minister thanked Trump 'for his steadfast support of Israel.'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just spoken with US President @ two discussed Israel's plans for taking control of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in order to bring about the end of the war, the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 10, 2025Earlier, Netanyahu said the upcoming offensive was necessary because of Hamas's refusal to disarm. Hamas has insisted it will not lay down arms unless an independent Palestinian state is was not clear when the offensive, which would be the latest in successive attempts by the Israeli military to clear the militants from Gaza City, would PLANS FOR PERMANENT OCCUPATION, NETANYAHU SAYSWhile Israel has steadily expanded its military control over parts of Gaza, Netanyahu said he does not intend to occupy the entire territory."We want a security belt right next to our border, but we don't want to stay in Gaza. That's not our purpose," he Israel's military chief has cautioned against a full occupation, warning it could prolong the conflict, jeopardize remaining hostages, and draw Israeli troops into deadly guerrilla city, once home to a million residents, is now nearly unrecognisable. Though Israel says it will move civilians into 'safe zones,' Palestinians argue those areas have failed to offer protection in previous stages of the EUROPEAN POWERS WARN OF WORSENING CRISISAs Netanyahu prepares for the new assault, international pressure on Israel is members of the United Nations warned that any expansion of military operations will worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in military operations will only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages, and result in further unnecessary suffering," said Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom in a joint statement."This is a manmade crisis, and therefore urgent action is needed to halt starvation and to surge aid into Gaza," they US representative at the Security Council defended Israel's position and reiterated Washington's commitment to freeing hostages, delivering humanitarian aid, and achieving said his government is working closely with Washington to increase aid flow into Gaza, including through land DROPS AND DEATHS FROM STARVATION MOUNTSGaza's health ministry reported that five more people, including two children died of malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of starvation-related deaths to 217, including 100 to severe access constraints, some countries have resorted to airdropping aid, but the method has proven fatal in several cases. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said 23 people have died as a result of aid airdrops since the war the latest incident, a parachuted aid box struck and killed a 14-year-old boy who was waiting for food in a tent camp in central Gaza, according to medics and a video verified by have repeatedly warned of the dangers of these inhumane methods and have consistently called for the safe and sufficient delivery of aid through land crossings, especially food, infant formula, medicines, and medical supplies," the media office denies restricting humanitarian aid, blaming Hamas for the crisis. It says large amounts of assistance have been distributed but that militants interfere with aid WARNS OF PROLONGED WARItalian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani cautioned Israel against deepening its military presence in Gaza. "The invasion of Gaza risks turning into a Vietnam for Israeli soldiers," Tajani said in an interview with Il military already controls large parts of Gaza but has not succeeded in dislodging Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Authorities now believe 20 of the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza are still then, more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza health officials, and vast areas of the territory lie in ruins.- EndsWith inputs from Reuters Tune InMust Watch
