PM Netanyahu Claims New Attack On Gaza Will Begin Soon

Israeli military operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he hoped to complete a new attack on the Gaza Strip "fast enough", as the UN Security Council heard new demands to end suffering in the Palestinian enclave.

Speaking after its security cabinet approved a plan criticized for military control of Gaza City, Netanyahu said he had no choice but to "finite his duties" and beat Hamas to free the hostages who seized him from Israel.

PM Netanyahu's office said on Sunday evening the prime minister had spoken to US President Donald Trump about "Israel's plans to take control of the rest of the Hamas stronghold in Gaza," Reuters told Aug. 11.

Earlier that day, the Israeli leader said the new attack on Gaza was aimed at attacking two remaining Hamas strongholds, which he called his only choice for the Palestinian group's refusal to lay down arms.

Hamas itself has long been known to be reluctant to strip weapons unless an independent Palestinian State was established.

However, it is not yet clear when the attack, which will be the latest attempt by a series of Israeli military efforts to clean up militants from Gaza City, will begin.

"The time limit we set for this action is fast enough. First of all, we want to allow the creation of a safe zone so that Gaza City civilians can move," Netanyahu explained.

The city, which is inhabited by one million people before the two-year war, will be moved to a "safe zone", he said.

On the other hand, Palestinians say the safe zone does not protect them from Israeli fire in the past.

Separately, Israeli Staff Ship Defense Forces Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has expressed his rejection of the entire occupation of the Gaza Strip, warning the expansion of attacks could endanger the lives of the hostages who are still being held by Hamas and drag their troops into a prolonged and deadly guerrilla war.

Later, Netanyahu said his goal was not to occupy Gaza.

"We want the security belt right next to our borders, but we don't want to stay in Gaza. That's not our goal," he said.

As of yesterday, Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip since the Israeli aggression on October 7, 2023, have reached 61,430 people, the majority of women and children, while the injured reached 153,213 people, quoted from WAFA.