Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel “has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.” He is speaking to foreign media in Jerusalem and defending a planned military offensive.

Defending a planned military offensive, Mr Netanyahu asserted that "our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza," while also pushing back against what he called a "global campaign of lies" amid growing condemnation of the plan both inside and outside Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel has no choice but to "complete the job" and defeat Hamas, given the Palestinian group's refusal to lay down its arms.