Netanyahu Visits Northern Gaza, Vows to Escalate Military Offensive Until War Goals Are Met
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a high-profile visit to northern Gaza on Tuesday, reaffirming his commitment to intensifying Israel’s military offensive against Hamas until all strategic objectives are achieved.
Accompanied by Defence Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Netanyahu received an on-ground security briefing from senior commanders. The visit underscores Israel’s continued push to dismantle Hamas amid one of the deadliest and longest-running conflicts in the region.
“You are doing a remarkable job,” Netanyahu told Israeli troops stationed in Gaza, as per a statement from his office. “We will continue until all the goals of the war are achieved—eliminating Hamas, returning the hostages, and ensuring that Gaza never again poses a threat to the people of Israel.”
Defence Minister Katz echoed similar sentiments, saying that the military would “continue to intensify the pressure on Hamas” until hostages are freed and the group is neutralized.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continues to rise. Gaza-based health authorities reported that more than 51,000 people have been killed during the 18-month Israeli military operation. Among the latest incidents, an Israeli airstrike targeted the entrance to a hospital in Khan Younis’s Mawasi area, killing at least one medic and injuring nine others, including patients and medical staff.
In response, an Israeli military spokesperson said the strike aimed at “the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and a combat zone commander,” and was executed using “precise munitions to mitigate collateral damage.”
On the diplomatic front, Netanyahu reiterated his longstanding opposition to the creation of a Palestinian state during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron. According to his office, Netanyahu stated that such a move would reward terrorism and could lead to a “stronghold of Iranian terrorism” just minutes from Israeli cities.
“The overwhelming majority of the Israeli public strongly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state,” Netanyahu told Macron, reiterating his position amid growing international calls for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Israeli government’s continued stance on military escalation and rejection of Palestinian statehood signals prolonged regional instability, as ceasefire negotiations and humanitarian efforts remain stalled.
