October 2, 2026
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday sought to defend a new military offensive in one of Gaza's most populated areas amid growing condemnation at home and abroad, declaring that Israel “has no choice but to finish 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 “bring in more foreign journalists.”
“Our goal is 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, one of Israel's strongest backers, had “buckled under” by announcing that Germany won’t authorize exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza.
Netanyahu said there is a “fairly short timetable” for the next steps in Gaza, but didn't give specifics. The goals, he said, include demilitarizing the territory, the Israeli military having “overriding security control” there, and a non-Israeli civilian administration in charge.
Netanyahu again blamed many of Gaza’s problems on the Hamas terrorist group, including civilian deaths, destruction, and shortages of aid. “Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists," he asserted, adding that Palestinians are “begging” the world to be freed from them.
The prime minister, who has asserted that there is “no starvation in Gaza,” did acknowledge hunger, saying, “There was a problem with deprivation, no question about it.” Israel wants to increase the number of aid distribution sites, he said.
The United States defended Israel, saying it has the right to decide what’s best for its security. It called allegations of genocide in Gaza false.
The U.S. has veto power at the council and can block proposed actions there. Other council members and U.N. officials expressed alarm.
On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz toured part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where about 40,000 Palestinians have been driven from their homes this year 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 since the war in Gaza began. Katz said the military would remain in the area's refugee camps at least until the end of the year.
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