Israel’s leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, said they want to take control of the border between Gaza and Egypt. This is part of a bigger plan to stop the fighting group Hamas. Netanyahu thinks the fight will go on for many months.
Netanyahu said Israel must control the Philadelphi Corridor, next to Egypt’s border with Gaza. This is needed so they can make sure no weapons get into these areas. This move would basically turn back the time to 2005 when Israel left Gaza. It will make it totally under control of Israel only again.
The big leader’s news came at the same time as Israel was still fighting in Gaza. It also said that they would keep up their attacks on Gaza for many more months to come. The military attack happened after a sudden attack by Hamas in October. This led to a big Israeli attack that made almost everyone living in Gaza, around 2.3 million people, lose their homes.
The most recent battles focused on places such as al-Bureij, Nuseirat, Maghazi and Khan Younis in the center and south of Gaza. The fight has already taken thousands of lives, and there are worries that it might get worse and involve other areas.
Israel said they made progress in breaking down Hamas resources, including a tunnel system in the house of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. But, proof for these claims has been very little.
Washington has called on Israel to change its approach. They want focused actions against Hamas leaders and are worried about random shooting. Israel has said that it will destroy Hamas, blaming the group for putting civilians at risk by using them as human shields. This claim is denied by Hamas itself.
The effect of the fight goes beyond Gaza, making people worry about possible involvement of groups who resist in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Israel has been pushed by others around the world to calm things down, but the fighting continues.
