Israel Takes Over Gaza, Netanyahu: We Don't Expel Residents, But Free If You Want To Go

Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu wefie with the Israeli military army IDF. (X @IsraeliPM)

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists his military will take over Gaza City completely by allowing residents if they wish to leave.

Netanyahu reflected on the Syrian, Ukrainian and Afghan residents who were attacked by the military were allowed to stay and be released if they wanted to leave.

"Give them the opportunity to leave, first of all, the combat zone, and in general to leave the region, if they wish," he said, in an interview with Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS, quoted from AFP, Wednesday, August 13.

In the Palestinian state of Gaza, Israel has implemented strict control policies against borders, including within the city. The Israeli government through its military also prohibits people from going in and out who curb human rights.

For Palestinians, Israel's efforts to expel them from the land itself refer to the "Nakba," or the mass refugee disaster of Palestinians during the formation of Israel in 1948.

Before Netanyahu planned to re-melt his military to attack Gaza City on the pretext of fighting Hamas, President of the United States (US) Donald Trump publicly in early 2025 suggested that his country take over Gaza and expel its 2.4 million population to Egypt and Jordan. Trump's plan sparked controversy and was opposed to international society.