Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed accusations that Israel is “deliberately targeting civilians” in Gaza, calling them false. He said Israel has dropped “millions of leaflets and sent millions of texts” to warn civilians and help them evacuate Gaza City. Netanyahu accused Hamas of embedding itself in mosques, schools, hospitals, and apartment buildings, forcing civilians to “stay in harm’s way” and threatening them at gunpoint. Rejecting allegations of genocide and deliberate starvation, Netanyahu argued that Israel’s warnings to civilians contradict claims of genocidal intent, asking, “Did the Nazis ask the Jews to leave?”, referring to the Holocaust during World War II. He also said that shortages of food in Gaza result from Hamas “stealing, hoarding, and selling” supplies. Netanyahu also quoted West Point urban warfare expert John Spencer, claiming Israel is “applying more measures minimising civilian casualties than any military in history.” He noted that the civilian-to-combatant casualty ratio in Gaza is “astoundingly low,” lower even than NATO’s in Afghanistan and Iraq. Rejecting claims that Israel is starving Gaza’s population, he said that “Israel is deliberately feeding the people of Gaza” while Hamas loots trucks and hoards food. 'Weak-kneed leaders who appease evil' Netanyahu also defended Israel’s military operations in Gaza and condemned what he called unfair international criticism. He stated that in Gaza, Israel is “wiping out the terror regime of Hamas and ensuring that this savagery will never threaten Israel again.” Netanyahu went on to accuse many world leaders of “buckling under the pressure of a biased media, radical Islamist constituencies, and antisemitic mobs,” adding that “when the going got tough, you caved.” He criticised countries and leaders for condemning Israel while fighting the same terrorists who threaten their own citizens. “As we fight the terrorists who murdered many of your citizens, you are fighting us,” he said. “You condemn us. You embargo us. And you wage political and legal warfare, lawfare, against us.” Netanyahu called such responses “an indictment of weak-kneed leaders who appease evil rather than supporting a nation whose brave soldiers guard you from the barbarians at the gate.” Netanyahu pointed to the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, noting that hostages included Holocaust survivors and family members across generations. He said Israel has recovered 207 hostages, while 20 of the remaining 48 in Gaza are alive. Using a QR code on his lapel, he shared Israel’s account of the attacks, addressing hostages directly via loudspeakers on the Gaza border: “We have not forgotten you… We will not rest until we bring all of you home.” The current conflict began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Since then, at least 65,500 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to Hamas-run health authorities.
