Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel will “take control” of the entire Gaza Strip, as the military launched what it called an “unprecedented” ground assault in the war-ravaged enclave.
The comments come amid renewed fighting and a deepening humanitarian crisis. Speaking in a video posted to Telegram, Netanyahu stated, “The fighting is intense, and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip.”
The Israeli military earlier issued evacuation orders for residents in the southern city of Khan Yunis and surrounding areas, ahead of expanded ground operations targeting Hamas. Airstrikes in the area reportedly killed at least 22 people on Monday, according to local rescuers.
Israel has described the renewed campaign as part of a broader strategy to “conquer” Gaza and dismantle Hamas’s presence. “We will not give up. But in order to succeed, we must act in a way that cannot be stopped,” Netanyahu said.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
While Israel announced it would allow limited humanitarian aid into Gaza, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a dire warning, saying that “two million people are starving.”
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticized the ongoing blockade, stating, “Tonnes of food are blocked at the border, just minutes away. The risk of famine in Gaza is increasing with the deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid.”
The total blockade, imposed since March 2, was initially intended to pressure Hamas into concessions. However, international organizations, including multiple UN agencies, have reported severe shortages of food, fuel, clean water, and medical supplies.
Even key allies like the United States have begun to raise alarms. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently acknowledged, “A lot of people are starving,” adding, “We’re going to get that taken care of.”
Political Divide Inside Israel
Inside Israel, the move to allow aid has sparked internal political debate. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir opposed resuming aid deliveries, arguing on X (formerly Twitter), “Our hostages receive no humanitarian aid.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also from the far right, defended allowing a “bare minimum” of assistance, saying it would help maintain diplomatic support from allies without benefiting Hamas. “This will allow civilians to eat and our friends in the world to keep giving us diplomatic protection,” he said.
Escalating Conflict in Khan Yunis
The Israeli military reported it had struck “160 terror targets” in the past 24 hours. In Khan Yunis, civil defence agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal said at least 11 people were killed and several others wounded in airstrikes, with another 11 fatalities reported elsewhere in the enclave.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents via Telegram to evacuate Khan Yunis immediately, declaring it a “dangerous combat zone.”
Footage from AFPTV showed helicopters circling above the city, and injured civilians—many of them children—being rushed to hospitals such as Nasser Hospital. Survivors described the scene as apocalyptic.
“It felt like the end of the world,” said local resident Mohammed Sarhan. “Gunfire was coming from every apartment, and there were F-16s and helicopters firing.”
Elsewhere in Deir el-Balah, a grieving Ayman Badwan mourned the loss of his brother. “We are exhausted and drained. Enough is enough. The world must intervene,” he said.
Mounting Toll
The war was sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,218 people—mostly civilians—and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Israel says 57 hostages remain in Gaza, including 34 believed to be dead.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 3,193 people have been killed since Israel resumed airstrikes on March 18, bringing the total death toll since the war began to 53,339.
As both the humanitarian toll and military operations escalate, international pressure is mounting for a ceasefire and a lasting political solution.
