Gaza: Netanyahu Vows Full Takeover as Israel Escalates Offensive Amid Humanitarian Pressure

As military operations intensify across the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday, May 19, that the Israeli army is now aiming for full territorial control of the Palestinian enclave. “The fighting is intense and we are making progress. We will take control of the entire territory,” he said in a video posted on his Telegram channel. He added: “To succeed, we must act in a way that prevents us from being stopped.”

The statement comes amid a renewed surge in ground assaults and airstrikes across southern Gaza, more than seven months after the war erupted in October 2023. Israel continues to tighten its grip on densely populated areas under heavy bombardment.

Partial Humanitarian Access Allowed Under International Pressure

In a slight shift of tone, Netanyahu signaled limited humanitarian access, which had largely been blocked since March 2. Under mounting pressure from key allies—who warned they might withdraw support if images of mass famine emerged—Netanyahu agreed to allow the entry of basic food supplies. “We must not let the population fall into famine, neither for practical reasons nor for diplomatic ones,” he stated.

France responded by calling for the immediate reopening of aid corridors. “The reopening of crossing points must be immediate, massive, and unobstructed,” said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

Medical Collapse in Northern Gaza

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, the last operational public hospital in the north has been forced to shut down. The facility was reportedly surrounded by Israeli forces and subjected to heavy gunfire, preventing patients, medical staff, and essential supplies from reaching the site.