Netanyahu aims to take full control of Gaza 'to prevent famine'; Veldkamp criticizes harshly

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized on Monday that Israel will take control of the entire Gaza Strip. He stated that 'practical and diplomatic reasons' must prevent famine in the area. Israel announced on Sunday that it will allow some food aid into the coastal region, where the military is conducting a large-scale ground operation against Hamas.

Netanyahu admitted that allowing minimal food and emergency aid is being done under diplomatic pressure. 'The fighting is intense, and we are making progress. We will take control of the entire strip,' the Prime Minister said in a video on Telegram. 'We will not give up.'

The humanitarian situation in densely populated Gaza has drawn international criticism. Israel has blocked humanitarian aid for over two months. Netanyahu acknowledged in the video that even Israel's allies would not accept images of widespread famine.

Caspar Veldkamp, the Foreign Minister, called Netanyahu's decision to allow minimal aid 'inadequate and insufficient.' 'Massive humanitarian aid is immediately needed to end food shortages and human suffering in Gaza's catastrophic situation,' he said.