JERUSALEM/CAIRO. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel will retain full control over the Gaza Strip, even as mounting international pressure has forced his government to ease restrictions on humanitarian aid amid dire warnings of an impending famine.
In a video message, Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to achieving “complete victory” over Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, by ensuring the release of all remaining hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure.
“Complete victory means eliminating Hamas, returning all our hostages, all 120, and ensuring that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu said.
As Israel’s military intensifies operations, residents in Khan Younis were urged to evacuate toward the coast on Monday ahead of what the military described as an “unprecedented attack.” This marks a continuation of the new phase of military operations that began Friday.
Meanwhile, Reuters reporters observed aid trucks making their way into northern Gaza after Netanyahu’s government, under increasing global scrutiny, lifted a months-long blockade on aid deliveries. The blockade, enforced since March, had drawn widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations and Western allies.
Israel has accused Hamas of diverting aid supplies, a charge the group firmly denies. The situation has prompted concern from European nations, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, all of which have described the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as “intolerable.” Even Israel’s strongest ally, the United States, has expressed growing unease.
Netanyahu acknowledged the rising pressure from Washington, saying:
“Our best friends in the world, senators I’ve known for years, are telling me that these scenes of hunger are eroding support. We are approaching a red line, to a point where we might lose control,” he said.
He appeared to be addressing ultranationalist factions within his own government who oppose allowing aid into Gaza, adding, “It is for that reason, in order to achieve victory, we have to somehow solve the problem.”
The United Nations estimates that at least 500 trucks per day are needed to meet Gaza’s humanitarian needs. The World Food Programme has reported that more than 116,000 metric tonnes of food, enough to sustain one million people for four months — is ready for delivery.
Despite the lifting of the blockade, aid flow remains limited. The Israeli military said five aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday, while U.N. officials reported that nine were cleared. U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called the deliveries “a drop in the ocean.”
A controversial U.S.-backed initiative, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, is set to begin operations by the end of May, aiming to use private contractors to manage aid distribution. However, the plan has been met with strong opposition from the U.N. and several aid organizations, which warn it could complicate existing relief efforts.
Fletcher urged that no more time be lost in alternative arrangements: “We cannot afford to waste another day when lives are at stake,” he said.
A source familiar with the U.S.-backed foundation said it had already secured over $100 million in pledges, though the source of the funds has not been disclosed.
Israeli military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said the goal of allowing hundreds of trucks in daily would take time, noting:
“I think that’s also a decision for the political echelon of how many will come in,” he told reporters.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the world watches closely whether aid delivery can match the scale of Gaza’s suffering, and whether Israel can navigate its path to what Netanyahu calls “complete victory” without losing critical international support.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
