Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday (September 2) that Israel does not plan to withdraw from any territory held by the military in the Gaza Strip

While overlooking the territory currently under the Israeli military's control, Netanyahu asserted Israel's grip on the area, pointing out that Israeli border communities, including Ashkelon, Sderot, and Netivot, were visible from his position inside the enclave.

Netanyahu also announced that Israeli forces had captured Hamas's head of internal security on Tuesday (September 1).

"Yesterday we got Hamas's head of the Shin Bet (internal security) apparatus," Netanyahu said. "We will certainly learn a few things, but we are doing everything to achieve our objective, which is to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza."

The prime minister added that the goal of ensuring Gaza no longer poses a security threat to Israel has "to a large extent, already been achieved," though he noted "there is still work to be completed."

Hamas said Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire and undermined efforts to advance a broader plan by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war. The plan includes Israeli troops withdrawing from Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas.

More than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed ‌in Gaza ⁠since the ceasefire came into force in October 2025, according to Gaza health officials. The Israeli military says four Israeli soldiers have been killed in militant attacks during the same period.

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Israeli PM Netanyahu in Gaza, says no plans to withdraw from controlled territory

VIDEO SHOWS: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, DELIVERING STATEMENT IN THE GAZA STRIP

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: GIVEN AS GAZA (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 2, 2026) (GPO - Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

"I am here inside the Gaza Strip with the Chief of Staff, the Southern Command commander, and our brave commanders and soldiers. We control the territory here. You can see Ashkelon over there, you can see all of our communities from every direction: Sderot, Netivot, and the kibbutzim. We control the area. We are not withdrawing. We are remaining on this line, controlling 60% of the Strip. And there is more to come, because we are eliminating the terrorists who threaten us. We are doing this day in and day out."

2. (MUTE) NETANYAHU WITH MILITARY OFFICIALS ONLOOKING FROM MILITARY OUTPOST

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING:

"Yesterday we got Hamas's head of the Shin Bet (internal security) apparatus.We will certainly learn a few things,but we are doing everything to achieve our objective, which is to disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza. Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. And this objective has, to a large extent, already been achieved, though there is still work to be completed. So let us complete it."

4. (MUTE) DESTROYED BUILDINGS

5. (MUTE) VARIOUS OF NETANYAHU WITH MILITARY OFFICIALS