Netanyahu defends new military offensive in Gaza says it will be wider than announced

     Jerusalem, Aug 10 (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a new military offensive in Gaza that's more sweeping than previously announced, declaring in the face of growing condemnation at home and abroad that Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas”.
     Even as more Israelis express concern over the 22-month war, Netanyahu said the security Cabinet last week instructed the dismantling of Hamas strongholds not only in Gaza City but also in the “central camps” of Muwasi.
     A source familiar with the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media, confirmed that Israel plans it in both areas.
     The crowded camps had not been part of Israel's announcement Friday of the offensive. It was not clear why, though Netanyahu has faced criticism within his ruling coalition that targeting Gaza City was not enough. Netanyahu said there would be “safe zones," but such designated areas have been bombed in the past.
     Rejecting starvation in Gaza as well as a “global campaign of lies," Netanyahu spoke to foreign media just before an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, a global platform for outrage but little action on the war.
     “Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza,” Netanyahu asserted.
     He said Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany, one of Israel's strongest backers, had “buckled under” the growing international criticism by stopping exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza. Merz, for his part, told public broadcaster ARD that Germany and Israel were talking “very critically” but Berlin's overall policies of friendship haven't changed.
     Netanyahu said there is a “fairly short timetable” for next steps in Gaza, but didn't give specifics. The goals, he said, include demilitarizing the territory, the Israeli military having “overriding security control” and a non-Israeli civilian administration in charge.
     Israel also wants to increase the number of aid distribution sites in Gaza, he said, but in a later briefing to local media, he asserted: “There is no hunger. There was no hunger. There was a shortage, and there was certainly no policy of starvation."
     Netanyahu also said he has directed Israel's military to “bring in more foreign journalists” - which would be a striking development, as they haven't been allowed into Gaza beyond military embeds during the war.
     He again blamed many of Gaza's problems on the Hamas militant group, including civilian deaths, destruction and aid shortages. “Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists," he asserted, adding that Palestinians are “begging” to be freed from them.
     Hamas responded with a lengthy statement that summed up Netanyahu's remarks as “blatant lies”. (AP) SCY
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)