Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday sought to defend a recent military offensive in considered one of Gaza‘s most populated areas amid growing condemnation at home and abroad, declaring that Israel “has no alternative but to complete the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”
He spoke to foreign media just before an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Gaza. Notably, Netanyahu said he has directed Israel’s military to “usher in more foreign journalists” — which could be a striking development, as they haven’t been allowed into Gaza beyond military embeds during 22 months of war.
“Our goal is just not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza,” Netanyahu asserted.
He also rejected what he called a “global campaign of lies” — and said Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, considered one of Israel’s strongest backers, had “buckled under” by stopping exports of military equipment to Israel that might be utilized in Gaza. Merz, for his part, told public broadcaster ARD that Germany and Israel were talking “very critically” but Berlin’s overall policies of friendship haven’t modified.
Netanyahu said there may be a “fairly short timetable” for next steps in Gaza, but didn’t give specifics. The goals, he said, include demilitarizing the territory, the Israeli military having “overriding security control” and a non-Israeli civilian administration in charge.
Netanyahu again blamed lots of Gaza’s problems on the Hamas militant group, including civilian deaths, destruction and aid shortages.
“Hamas still has 1000’s of armed terrorists,” he asserted, adding that Palestinians are “begging” to be free of them.
The prime minister, who has asserted that there may be “no starvation in Gaza,” did acknowledge hunger, saying, “there was an issue with deprivation, no doubt about it.” Israel wants to extend the variety of aid distribution sites, he said.
U.S. defends Israel at Security Council meeting
America defended Israel, saying it has the precise to make a decision what’s best for its security. It called allegations of genocide in Gaza false.
The U.S. has veto power on the council and might block proposed actions there.
Samah Matar poses for a photograph along with her sons Yousef, 6, in her arms, and Amir, 4, that suffer from malnutrition and cerebral palsy, at a U.N.-run school in Gaza City, Saturday, July 26, 2025.
Jehad Alshrafi/ AP Photo
Other council members, and U.N. officials, expressed alarm. China called the “collective punishment” of individuals in Gaza unacceptable. Russia warned against a “reckless intensification of hostilities.”
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“This isn’t any longer a looming hunger crisis; that is starvation,” said Ramesh Rajasingham with the U.N. humanitarian office.
“Humanitarian conditions are beyond horrific. We’ve frankly run out of words to explain it.”
Holding their pots, Palestinians wait to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, June 2, 2025.
Abdel Kareem Hana/ AP Photo
More Palestinians killed as they seek aid
No less than 31 Palestinians were killed while looking for aid in Gaza, hospitals and witnesses said.
The Associated Press spoke to witnesses of gunfire within the Israeli-controlled Morag and Netzarim corridors and the Teina area within the south. All accused Israeli forces of firing at crowds as people tried to achieve food distributions or waited for convoys.
Fifteen people were killed while waiting for trucks near the Morag corridor that separates the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, in accordance with Nasser hospital.
The situation is a “death trap,” said Jamal al-Laweh, who said Israeli forces opened fire there.
“But I actually have no other alternative to feed the children.”
Six were killed while waiting for aid in northern Gaza near the Zikim crossing, in accordance with Gaza’s Health Ministry and Shifa hospital.
In central Gaza, witnesses said they heard warning shots before fire was aimed toward crowds trying to achieve a distribution site operated by the Israeli-backed and U.S.-funded Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The AP couldn’t independently confirm who fired. Awda hospital said 4 people were killed by Israeli gunfire.
Six other aid-seekers were killed while trying to achieve GHF sites in Khan Younis and Rafah, Nasser hospital said.
The GHF sites opened in May as an alternative choice to the U.N.-run aid system, but operations have been marred by deaths and chaos.
Responding to AP inquiries, the GHF media office said: “There have been no incidents at or near our sites today and these incidents seem like linked to crowds attempting to loot aid convoy.” Israel’s military said there have been no incidents involving troops near central Gaza aid sites.
Seven people were killed in airstrikes, local hospitals said — three near the fishermen’s port in Gaza City and 4, two of them children, in a tent in Khan Younis. Israel’s military didn’t immediately comment.
Hunger death toll amongst children hits 100
Israel’s air and ground offensive has displaced most Palestinians and pushed the territory toward famine.
Two Palestinian children died of malnutrition-related causes on Saturday, bringing the toll amongst children to 100 because the war began.
No less than 117 adults have died of malnutrition-related causes since June, when the ministry began to count them.
The hunger toll is along with the ministry’s war toll of 61,400 Palestinians. The ministry, a part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals, doesn’t distinguish between fighters or civilians, but says around half of the dead have been women and youngsters.
Omniya Mahra, holds shirtless for a photograph her sons Oday, 4, left, and Mohammed, 3, that suffer from malnutrition and a genetic nerve disorder, on the Friends of the Patient Hospital in Gaza City, Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi
The U.N. and independent experts consider it probably the most reliable source on war casualties.
Labor strike urged in Israel over looming offensive
Hostages’ relatives urged a labor strike in Israel next week over the plans to expand military operations in Gaza City, fearing it would endanger their family members.
Fifty hostages remain after being taken within the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war. Twenty are believed to be alive.
Lishay Miran-Lavi, whose husband, Omri, is among the many hostages, appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and special envoy Steve Witkoff to halt the fighting.
Also Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz toured a part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where about 40,000 Palestinians have been driven from their homes this 12 months in the West Bank’s largest displacement since Israel captured the territory in 1967.
Israel says the operations are needed to stamp out militancy, as violence by all sides has surged because the war in Gaza began. Katz said the military would remain in the realm’s refugee camps no less than until the top of the 12 months.
Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Edith M. Lederer on the United Nations and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed.