Netanyahu vows to take control of Gaza amid international condemnation

[MIDDLE EAST] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged that Israel will "take control" of the entire Gaza Strip, even as key international allies issued scathing criticism of the intensifying military campaign and ongoing blockade on humanitarian aid.

The leaders of Britain, France, and Canada condemned Israel's recent actions as disproportionate and described the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as "intolerable." In a joint statement, they warned of “concrete” consequences should Israel fail to halt its offensive and allow the unfettered flow of aid.

On the same day, Israel escalated its operations by designating the entire city of Khan Younis a combat zone. Airstrikes reportedly killed over 60 people, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared the military’s intent to “wipe out” what remains of Palestinian Gaza.

Conditions across Gaza have continued to deteriorate. Nearly all of the 2.3 million residents have been displaced, many multiple times, as Israeli forces repeatedly return to areas previously evacuated.

“We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions,” the allied nations stated. “If Israel does not cease its renewed military offensive and lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.”

Netanyahu rebuffed the criticism, asserting that Israel would continue its campaign until “total victory” is secured. He accused the leaders of London, Ottawa, and Paris of effectively rewarding Hamas for the October 7 attacks and encouraging further atrocities.

Under growing international pressure to prevent famine, Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel would ease its 11-week-long blockade to stave off a starvation crisis. A day later, the UN confirmed that nine aid trucks had been permitted entry—just under 2% of the volume delivered daily before the war, when Gaza maintained its own agricultural infrastructure. Aid agencies say the limited shipments fall far short of meeting basic needs.

The UK, France, and Canada described Israel’s easing of the blockade as “wholly inadequate,” warning that the actions may violate international law. They called for a return to aid delivery based on humanitarian principles.

Netanyahu’s decision drew backlash from far-right members of his cabinet. On Monday, he shared a video on social media suggesting he had been compelled to act due to pressure from close allies. He said senators from Israel’s strongest partner—without naming them—warned that they could not continue offering support while images of starving Palestinians circulated globally.

“They told me: ‘We cannot accept images of hunger, mass hunger. We cannot stand that. We will not be able to support you,’” Netanyahu said. He added that the situation was approaching a “red line” where Israel risked losing control, though he did not elaborate.

While Netanyahu did not specify who applied the pressure, former U.S. President Donald Trump remarked last week that “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza and promised to “take care” of the situation. His visit to the region, which notably excluded Israel, raised hopes for a possible ceasefire—hopes that were dashed when Israel launched a renewed ground assault shortly after his departure.

Over the weekend, heavy bombardments killed hundreds more Palestinians and further damaged Gaza’s already strained hospital infrastructure. The death toll from the conflict now stands at 53,486, with the vast majority believed to be civilians.

“We are making progress. The fighting is intense,” Netanyahu said Monday in a Telegram video. "We will take control of all the territory of the Strip.”

“The Israeli military ordered civilians out of central Khan Younis, now labeled a “combat zone.” With much of Gaza in ruins and many already displaced several times, most residents have few options left for refuge.

Smotrich, a staunch opponent of any diplomatic resolution, supported Netanyahu’s limited easing of aid restrictions, framing it as a tactical move to allow Israeli forces to prolong their campaign. “Now we conquer, cleanse, and stay—until Hamas is destroyed,” he said at a press conference. “Along the way, what remains of the strip is also being wiped out.”

Smotrich claimed Israel was relocating civilians out of combat zones with the eventual goal of resettling them in third countries, referencing a “plan under President Trump.”

Netanyahu has defended the siege by alleging that Hamas diverts aid from humanitarian agencies and the UN. While some armed groups in Gaza have looted warehouses amid deepening hunger, Israeli officials have yet to provide concrete evidence or data showing significant diversion of aid by Hamas. Veteran humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza, with well-audited supply chains, say their deliveries are not being redirected.

Israel has proposed a new aid distribution system that would replace existing networks with centralized compounds controlled by the Israeli military and staffed by armed contractors. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a Swiss-registered startup described by Israeli officials as a “U.S. initiative,” will oversee the compounds. Its director, former U.S. Marine Jake Woods, claims GHF will be operational by the end of the month. However, questions remain about funding and logistics.

Major international aid groups and the UN have said they will not cooperate with GHF, citing concerns over neutrality, operational independence, and staff safety due to its links to the Israeli military. Israel’s Foreign Ministry has declined to comment on how the new aid initiative will be financed.

Israel launched its military campaign following the October 7 Hamas attacks, which killed 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and led to the abduction of 250 hostages. Fifty-eight remain in Gaza, though nearly two-thirds are believed to be dead.