Gaza government rebuts Netanyahu's claims in press conference

The Gaza office on Sunday countered Netanyahu's assertions regarding the ongoing genocidal war and humanitarian situation in Gaza. 

Occupation not liberation

Netanyahu held a rare press conference for foreign media on Sunday in al-Quds, where he outlined Zionist regime's plans for the continuation of its genocidal war against the people of the Gaza Strip. He also aimed to counter the growing global awareness of Israel's genocidal actions, labeling it a “global campaign of lies” regarding Israel’s conduct.

Netanyahu claimed, “Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, but to liberate it.”

Gaza’s Government Media Office called this blatant deception, citing Zionist regime’s ministers who have publicly stated their intentions to occupy and resettle Gaza. This includes remarks from prominent figures such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, revealing a clear agenda that involves comprehensive destruction and forced displacement.

Disarming Hamas or genocide?

Regarding claims that Zionist regime aims to “disarm Hamas and establish a non-Israeli civil administration,” the Gaza office stated that the actual objectives are genocide, mass destruction, and forced displacement, as evidenced by the staggering toll of 61,430 martyrs and over 153,000 wounded individuals. They highlighted that more than 88% of Gaza's vital sectors, including hospitals and schools, have been devastated, resulting in the displacement of over 1.9 million civilians.

Mischaracterization of governance

Netanyahu’s assertion of establishing a “peaceful civil administration” was refuted as a move toward entrenching a client regime for the occupation, undermining the principles of self-determination. The Gaza officials emphasized that instead of liberation, the actions represent a continuation of colonialism and theft.

"While the world is moving toward liberation, the Israeli occupation authorities cling to colonialism, settlement, theft, destruction, and confiscation of land, and the systematic expulsion, displacement, and killing of its people and true inhabitants," it stated.

Aid distribution misleading

Netanyahu claimed that Zionist regime had allowed in “2 million tons of aid.” The Gaza office rebutted this, stating that crossings have been significantly restricted for over 500 days and only a small fraction of needed aid—14% of what is required—has been permitted to enter. They condemned the actions as starvation tactics, with over 780 aid workers reportedly killed to facilitate aid theft.

Accusations against Hamas

In response to claims of aid being looted by Hamas, the Gaza office pointed to various international organizations that deny such allegations, asserting that the real objective is a policy of systematic starvation against civilians.

"Full oversight of aid was in the hands of international and UN institutions, and what the occupation is doing is systematic starvation under a false pretext. Its goal behind this lie is threefold: murder and genocide, total destruction, and forced displacement, all to facilitate the occupation of the Gaza Strip," the Gaza office said.

Blocked humanitarian efforts

Netanyahu's claim that the United Nations refused to distribute aid was countered with the assertion that Zionist regime has tightly controlled aid entry and imposed rigorous conditions, complicating relief efforts.

" These allegations have been refuted by all United Nations organizations and international bodies through official statements repeatedly calling on the Zionist regime's occupation to open the crossings and facilitate the entry of aid without any restrictions and with complete freedom," the Gaza office said.

Fabrication of images

The Gaza office remarked on accusations that Hamas has published falsified images, asserting that the Israeli side has been responsible for disseminating misleading media, with evidence of its use of artificial intelligence to manipulate images.

"Documented evidence confirms that these misleading materials are still being published on official Zionist regime's accounts to this day, and any observer can easily verify this," the Gaza office said.

"The images of destruction, starvation, and killing have been broadcast live to the world for months, without interruption and with complete transparency. This horrific reality, freely transmitted by international sources, cannot be fabricated," it added.

War duration misleading

Despite Netanyahu's comments about maintaining a rapid timeline for operations,

Gaza officials contend that "Netanyahu's comments about maintaining a rapid timeline for operations," saying that the continuous destruction and control over Gaza demonstrate a deliberate prolongation of the humanitarian crisis.

The Gaza office said that "the facts on the ground clearly reveal the occupation authorities' intention to impose complete control over the Gaza Strip, prolong the genocide, and continue their policies of killing, displacement, and starvation, thus belying everything Netanyahu promotes."

Media restrictions

The Gaza office highlighted a complete ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza imposed by the Israeli regime, aiming to shield their "crimes" from international scrutiny.

"Since the outbreak of the war in 2023, the Zionist regime's occupation authorities have imposed a blanket ban on the entry of foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip, in a systematic attempt to conceal its crimes and cover up its horrific, brutal massacres. Despite hundreds of international demands to open the Strip to international media outlets to enable them to report the facts, the occupation continues its repeated refusal, fearing the extent of the violations and atrocities it commits against civilians will be exposed," it said.

They urged the global media to advocate for access to accurately report the situation.

"The Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip and all components of Palestinian society welcome foreign media and journalists and are committed to protecting them and enabling them to work freely and transparently throughout the Strip."

Blame and destruction

Additionally, Gaza officials challenged Netanyahu's narrative that Hamas is responsible for the destruction in Gaza, pointing out that Israeli forces have unleashed vast amounts of explosives on civilian areas, inflicting widespread devastation.

"The Israeli occupation authorities dropped more than 140,000 tons of explosives on residential neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, places of worship (mosques and churches), and various vital facilities, using hundreds of fighter jets, resulting in the destruction of thousands of facilities. Despite the clear field evidence, Israel blatantly attempts to pin the blame for its crimes on the victims themselves, in a scene that embodies the height of absurdity, deception, and absurdity," they said.

Safe corridors?

Regarding claims of opening safe corridors for civilians, the Gaza office stated these routes have turned into death traps, resulting in the death of hundreds of civilians due to gunfire from Israeli forces.

"These corridors turned into death traps, as the occupation army opened fire on civilians at point-blank range on Salah al-Din and Rashid Streets, killing more than 100 Palestinian women and children in cold blood. The occupation army also prevented humanitarian crews from reaching the bodies for months, until they completely decomposed, leaving only bones," the Gaza office said.

Contention over external authority

Finally, addressing the idea of an “Alternative Transitional Authority,” the Gaza officials reaffirmed the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and leadership, rejecting any form of foreign control, underscoring resistance as a legitimate right under international law.

"The Palestinian people categorically reject any form of foreign tutelage and adhere to their inherent right, guaranteed by international law, to choose their leadership of their own free will. Our people do not accept that their affairs be managed by anyone other than the Palestinians," the Gaza office said.

This rebuttal from the Gaza Government Media Office serves to counter the narrative put forth by the Israeli regime, drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for clarity and truth in reporting from the region.

Israel’s war, which began in October 2023, has martyred at least 61,430 Palestinians and injured more than 153,213.

Charity slams Israeli enforced starvation of children in Gaza as 'moral scar on humanity'