Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel has “no choice” but to escalate its offensive in Gaza as his country faces heightened criticism for its conduct amid the war in the territory.

“Given Hamas’s refusal to lay down its arms, Israel has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas. Now, we’ve done a great deal. We have about 70 to 75 percent of Gaza under Israeli control, military control. But we have two remaining strongholds, OK? These are Gaza City and the Central Camps and Moasi. That’s roughly, schematically, presented here, but it’s fairly accurate,” Netanyahu said at a press conference.

“Last Thursday, Israel’s Cabinet, Israel’s security Cabinet, instructed the IDF to dismantle the two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the Central Camps,” he added, referring to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war, and the best way to end it speedily.”

Netanyahu said Thursday the Israeli military intends to take over Gaza and argued it was needed for his country’s security. He said in an interview with Fox News the takeover of the territory was planned to “assure our security, remove Hamas there, enable the population to be free of Gaza and to pass it to civilian governance that is not Hamas and not anyone advocating the destruction of Israel.”

On Friday, the Israeli government confirmed it would try to occupy Gaza City, one of the last remaining areas in the territory that had not already been evacuated or transformed into an Israeli buffer zone.

In a thread on the social platform X on Sunday afternoon, Netanyahu’s office said that the prime minister had “just spoken with” President Trump.

“The two discussed Israel’s plans for taking control of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in order to bring about the end of the war, the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” Netanyahu’s office continued. “Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his steadfast support of Israel since the start of the war.”