Israel to escalate Gaza offensive, says PM Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the country’s military will move into Gaza “with full force” in the coming days, despite ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire and the recent release of a US-Israeli hostage.

He said the goal is to "complete the operation," which, according to him, means defeating Hamas.

"In the very coming days, we are going in with full force to complete the operation," Netanyahu said in a statement released Tuesday. "Completing the operation means defeating Hamas. It means destroying Hamas."

His remarks came shortly after the return of Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old US-Israeli soldier who had been held captive in Gaza since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

Netanyahu credited the release to military action and diplomatic pressure.

"Our military pressure and the political pressure exerted by President Trump” led to Alexander’s freedom," he said.

However, Hamas rejected that claim.

In a statement, the group said, "The return of Edan Alexander is the result of serious communications with the US administration and the efforts of mediators, not a consequence of Israeli aggression or the illusion of military pressure."

Israel resumed its major operations in Gaza on March 18 after talks around a ceasefire stalled.

Earlier this month, the Israeli government approved new plans to widen the military campaign, with officials speaking about maintaining a long-term presence in the territory.

The military has said the latest strikes are aimed at forcing Hamas to release more hostages.

The release of Alexander, the last living hostage in Gaza with US citizenship, happened as Hamas said it was in direct talks with the United States over a potential ceasefire.

On Monday, Netanyahu thanked Trump "for his assistance in the release" and said a team would travel to Qatar to continue negotiations.

Talks for a possible deal, he said, would carry on "under fire, during preparations for an intensification of the fighting."

Trump, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday on the first leg of a Gulf tour, is also expected to visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Netanyahu also spoke with US envoy Steve Witkoff, who had visited Alexander in the hospital.

"The entire nation of Israel is overjoyed," Netanyahu told him in a phone call released by his office.

"We are grateful for American support and deeply appreciate the soldiers who are prepared to act by any means necessary if the remaining hostages are not released."

Alexander, speaking during the call, said: "It’s crazy, unbelievable. I’m okay. Weak, but slowly, I’ll get back to how I was before. It’s just a matter of time."

US officials, including Witkoff and hostage envoy Adam Boehler, met with families of those still missing in Tel Aviv.

According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Witkoff told them the US would "accept nothing less than the return of everyone, as this is the President’s mission."

Meanwhile, Netanyahu said that Israel is looking for countries willing to take in people from Gaza. The idea, first raised by Trump, has been widely rejected by governments in the region and beyond.

"We’ve set up an administration that will allow them to leave, but... we need countries willing to take them in. That’s what we’re working on right now," Netanyahu said.

“Over 50% will leave” if the option is given, he added.

The war began after the Hamas attack on October 7 that left 1,218 people dead in Israel, most of them civilians.

Militants also abducted 251 people.

According to Israeli data, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 declared dead.

In response, Israel launched a major military offensive.

The Hamas-run health ministry says at least 52,908 people have been killed in Gaza so far, most of them civilians.