by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – In a forceful address on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid out his government’s battle plan for Gaza, declaring that Israel’s mission is not to seize the territory but to free it from the grip of Hamas. Framing the campaign as a fight for liberation rather than conquest, Netanyahu vowed to dismantle the terrorist group’s rule and secure a future in which Gazans can live free from fear, oppression, and the violence of jihad.
Speaking to foreign media at the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu said Israel currently holds 70-75 percent of the Gaza Strip, with remaining Hamas strongholds concentrated in Gaza City and the central Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone. The next phase of the military campaign will involve dismantling these pockets of resistance after civilians are evacuated to secure areas where they will receive food, water, and medical care.
Netanyahu stressed that the war could end immediately if Hamas surrendered and released all hostages. However, given Hamas’s refusal, Israel would continue until the group’s complete defeat.
Five Principles for Ending the War
The prime minister outlined five conditions for ending the conflict: the complete disarmament of Hamas, the release of all hostages, the demilitarization of Gaza, Israeli security control with buffer zones, and the establishment of a peaceful, non-Israeli civilian administration. He rejected the Palestinian Authority as a governing partner, accusing it of supporting terrorism.
The Ideological Core of the Conflict
At the heart of the continued war is not just strategic disagreement but a deep ideological resistance rooted in Hamas’s jihadist worldview. In this framework, Jews are not merely political opponents but theological enemies–often dehumanized as descendants of apes and pigs, corrupters of faith, and illegitimate occupiers of Islamic land. Such rhetoric, drawn from extremist interpretations of Islamic texts, frames the conflict as a divine mandate rather than a political dispute.
For Hamas, conceding to Israel or accepting a ceasefire would not only signal defeat but constitute a theological humiliation — an affront to the greatness of Allah and a betrayal of their cause. Any compromise risks undermining their justification for jihad and shattering the spiritual foundation of their movement, making meaningful negotiations exceedingly difficult.
Humanitarian Aid and Allegations of Starvation
Addressing accusations that Israel is using starvation as a weapon, Netanyahu stated that Israel has allowed 2 million tons of aid into Gaza and facilitated hundreds of aid trucks. He accused Hamas of looting supplies and the UN of failing to distribute them effectively. He also presented photographs that he said were examples of Hamas propaganda, claiming they were falsified or unrelated to the war.
He argued that if Israel had pursued a starvation policy, Gaza’s population could not have survived two years of conflict. Netanyahu said the only people deliberately deprived of food in Gaza are the Israeli hostages. He pledged to expand safe corridors for aid distribution and increase airdrops in cooperation with international partners.
International Tensions Mount
The press conference came amid growing diplomatic strains. France, the UK, Germany, and other nations have signaled plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Berlin would halt arms transfers to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Netanyahu attributed these moves to false media reports and international pressure, insisting that Israel will win the war with or without foreign support. He also said he planned to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump soon about strategic coordination.
Domestic Rift Over Gaza City Operation
Inside Israel, the cabinet’s decision to advance into Gaza City has sparked heated debate. National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and the interim Mossad chief warned that the move could endanger hostages still held by Hamas, calling instead for a temporary ceasefire to facilitate their release.
Far-right members of the Religious Zionism party sharply criticized any hesitation, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and MK Tzvi Sukkot accusing Netanyahu of undermining total victory. Sukkot posted on social media that Israel must choose between conquering Gaza or being conquered by it.
Looking Ahead
Netanyahu maintained that the military campaign could be completed in a relatively short time frame, pointing to the rapid evacuation of Rafah earlier in the war. However, Israeli media estimates suggest securing the remaining areas could take up to five months. He said no government would allow a genocidal regime in Gaza and that Israel’s duty is to free the Gazans from Hamas and ensure it never threatens Israel again.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
Israel expanded its military campaign against Hezbollah on Monday, striking more than 70 targets across Lebanon as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to increase pressure on the Iranian-backed terror group following a sharp rise in drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel.
A federal appeals court is weighing whether Kansas City can use its public accommodation ordinance to require Christian counselors to counsel gay married couples despite the counselors’ biblical convictions on marriage and sexuality.
Tens of thousands of evangelical Christians gathered in the Netherlands for one of Europe’s largest multi-day Christian events, with organizers and participants expressing hopes for spiritual revival in the nation and across Europe.
President Donald Trump pushed back Monday against sharp criticism from Republicans and former administration officials over a potential U.S.-Iran agreement, insisting that any final accord must prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon or it will not be signed.
President Donald Trump said Monday that countries involved in negotiations over Iran should be required to join the Abraham Accords, signaling that the White House is seeking to turn a possible Iran agreement into a wider regional realignment that includes normalization with Israel.
Tensions remained high in Serbia’s capital Belgrade on Sunday after at least tens of thousands of people demanded elections and rallied against what they view as the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Aleksandar Vučić, with violence erupting after the protest and more than 20 people arrested.
Investigations were ongoing Sunday into the killing of three senior Kuki-Thadou Christian church leaders by unidentified gunmen in India’s northeastern Manipur State, Christian investigators told Worthy News.