The goal of this press conference is to puncture the lies and present the truth, said Netanyahu when he initiated Sunday's press conference.
The Israeli leader continued to talk about the government's plan to occupy the entire Gaza.
Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to liberate Gaza.
This is the best way to end the war, and to do it in a safe way.
Five-step plan to "liberate Gaza"
The plan has however been met with harsh international criticism, but also led to large demonstrations in Israel as one fears that the military operation can lead to the killing of Israeli hostages.
My goal is to get out all 20 (alive) hostages and get out all (alive and dead). Of 250 hostages, we have gotten out 205, of which 148 are alive, said Netanyahu.
During the press conference, he talked about Israel's five-step plan to "liberate Gaza" – a plan that according to Israel will lead to a peaceful Palestinian rule. The plan was presented already on Friday and begins with Hamas being disarmed.
Allows in journalists
On Sunday, Hamas-controlled authorities announced that 100 children had died of starvation in Gaza. Netanyahu claims, however, that the reports of the population in Gaza starving are a "global lie campaign".
He claims that Israel has released historically large amounts of aid to Gaza during the war, but that the convoys are being plundered by Hamas. A stance often repeated from the Israeli side.
At the same time, he announced that Israel will now expand the humanitarian support to Gaza. This will happen through three steps, establishing more secure corridors for aid convoys, increasing the number of distribution sites, and releasing more emergency aid from the air.
Netanyahu also announced that he has instructed the military to allow foreign journalists into Gaza, something Israel has not allowed until now and has been met with harsh international criticism. It is not clear under what premises this will happen.
Facts: Israel's five points that put an end to the war
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Israel's security cabinet formulated at its meeting on Thursday a five-point list that can lead to the end of the Gaza war: 1. Hamas is disarmed.
2. All hostages are returned – both the living and the dead.
3. The Gaza Strip is demilitarized.
4. Israel controls the security in the Gaza Strip.
5. An alternative civil rule, with neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority (PA), is established.
Source: Israeli government
