“This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future,” Netanyahu wrote. His post echoes sentiments he shared during a Fox News interview on Thursday, when he said a takeover of Gaza’s (formerly) most populous city would “liberate” its people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that Israel's goal is not to take over Gaza, but to free Gaza from Hamas and enable a peaceful government to be established there,

The wave of condemnation from European leaders, Arab nations and a group representing the families of hostages illustrated a widening gulf between Netanyahu’s government and much of the world as Israel’s 22-month war against Hamas intensifies and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip worsens.