Netanyahu Says Israel Aims to Take Control of Gaza, Not Govern It

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel's goal is to take military control of all of Gaza, but he has made it clear that the country does not intend to govern or keep the territory indefinitely. This declaration comes amid growing international and domestic criticism over the ongoing war in the Palestinian enclave, which has lasted nearly two years and left thousands dead and displaced.

Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said, "We intend to [take control of Gaza], but we don't want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body." He added that Israel would prefer to hand over control to Arab forces that could govern the territory in the future.

Netanyahu's comments were made ahead of a meeting with senior ministers to discuss expanding the military's control over more areas in Gaza. The security cabinet session follows a tense meeting with the head of the Israeli military, where the chief reportedly pushed back on further expansion of the campaign.

Public opinion in Israel is divided. While many Israelis support a ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages, Netanyahu's government has remained firm in its stance of achieving a "total victory" over Hamas, which launched the war with its October 2023 attack on Israel.

The far-right ministers in Netanyahu's coalition have been vocal in their support for expanding the military operation, even suggesting the possibility of re-establishing Israeli settlements in Gaza, something Israel had abandoned two decades ago.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. Over 2 million Palestinians have been displaced multiple times, and aid groups warn that the enclave is on the brink of famine. According to the Gaza health ministry, nearly 200 Palestinians have died of starvation since the war began, with nearly half of them being children.

Aya Mohammad, 30, who has been displaced multiple times, said, "You know what displacement is? It means your dignity is wiped out, you become a homeless beggar, searching for food, water and medicine." Her words echo the sentiments of many Gazans who have been left with no safe place to live.

International pressure on Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire agreement continues to mount, but he faces strong resistance from within his coalition. The United Nations has called reports of potential military expansion in Gaza "deeply alarming" if true.

As the war drags on, the humanitarian toll grows, and the political tensions in Israel remain high. With no clear resolution in sight, the future of Gaza—and the region—remains uncertain.