Tel Aviv : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn sharp criticism from Gulf nations after openly endorsing the concept of a “Greater Israel” during a televised interview, reigniting tensions amid Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
On Tuesday, August 12, in an interview with i24 News, Netanyahu was handed an amulet depicting “a map of the Promised Land” by interviewer Sharon Gal. While the image was not shown on air, Netanyahu affirmed his connection to the vision. The clip was later posted on his official X account.
The “Greater Israel” concept refers to territories captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War, including East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights — areas that overlap significantly with land Palestinians envision for a future state.
The Arab Parliament denounced Netanyahu’s remarks as a blatant violation of international law. Saudi Arabia accused Israel of pursuing expansionist policies, while Qatar and Oman warned that such statements would escalate regional instability.
Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned Netanyahu’s comments as a “blatant assault” on the sovereignty of Arab nations and called for immediate diplomatic measures.
The controversy comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate under Israel’s military campaign. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, four more people died of hunger in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of hunger-related deaths to 239 — including 106 children.
Since October 7, 2023, at least 61,776 Palestinians have been killed and 154,906 injured, the ministry reported. Additionally, 1,881 people seeking humanitarian aid have been killed since May.
