Netanyahu says Israel will control all of Gaza by end of offensive

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that all of the Gaza Strip would be under Israeli control by the end of its ongoing, intensified offensive in the Palestinian territory.

“All of the Gaza Strip will be under the Israeli army’s control” by the end of the current operation, Netanyahu said at a presser in Jerusalem.

He added that “we must avoid a humanitarian crisis in order to preserve our freedom of operational action,” as pressure mounted on Israel to allow aid into war-battered Gaza.

Netanyahu said he was ready for a “temporary ceasefire” to secure the return of hostages held in Gaza, adding 20 of them were “certainly” alive.

“If there is an option for a temporary ceasefire to free hostages; we’ll be ready,” Netanyahu said, adding that “there are 20 hostages that are certainly alive.”

He also said Israel has probably killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. An Israeli airstrike on a hospital in southern Gaza targeted Sinwar earlier this month but his death had not so far been confirmed either by Israel or Hamas.