Netanyahu calls new Gaza plan the best path to end war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to a military push into Gaza City and the last remaining Hamas strongholds, calling it “the best way to end the war quickly.” His remarks come amid mounting domestic protests and international calls for a halt to the fighting, which has now entered its 22nd month following Hamas’s unprecedented October 2023 attack on Israel.

Expanding the Offensive

Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem on Sunday, Netanyahu outlined a plan to dismantle Hamas’s final bases in Gaza City and the central camps in Al-Mawasi. The operation, he said, would be carried out on a “fairly short timetable” and would establish secure corridors and safe zones for civilians to evacuate.

“Israel has no choice but to finish the job,” he told reporters, noting that the Israeli military already controls 70–75% of Gaza. A Hamas spokesperson dismissed Netanyahu’s statements as “a series of lies.”

Mounting Domestic Unrest

The announcement has deepened divisions within Israel, with thousands gathering in Tel Aviv over the weekend to protest the plan. Critics warn that expanding the war could endanger the 49 hostages still held in Gaza — 27 of whom the Israeli military believes are dead — and lead to further military and civilian casualties.

Some protesters, like Joel Obodov, labeled the initiative “just another plan that is gonna fail,” while far-right coalition members criticized it for not going far enough. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir pushed for a more aggressive approach, including full occupation and resettlement of Gaza.

International Pushback and Humanitarian Concerns

The plan has also triggered a wave of global condemnation. UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca warned it could “trigger another calamity in Gaza,” leading to mass displacement and further loss of life. International agencies have repeatedly cautioned that famine conditions are unfolding in the territory due to restrictions on aid.

Foreign governments — including Israel’s allies — are urging a ceasefire to facilitate hostage negotiations and humanitarian relief. Netanyahu, however, insists that Israel will “win the war, with or without the support of others,” and envisions a civilian administration in Gaza that is independent of both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

Human Cost of the Conflict

The war’s toll remains devastating. According to Gaza’s health ministry, 61,430 Palestinians have been killed, figures the United Nations considers credible. On Sunday alone, 27 people were reported dead from Israeli strikes, including 11 waiting for aid near distribution centers.

Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel killed 1,219 people, based on official Israeli figures compiled by AFP. Meanwhile, journalists have continued to face lethal risks, with a recent strike killing five Al Jazeera reporters in Gaza — part of nearly 200 media workers killed since the war began.