Netanyahu Compares Gaza to North Korea, Claims Residents 'Cannot Leave'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made another controversial statement, comparing the Gaza Strip in Palestine to North Korea. He claimed that residents in both Gaza and North Korea are equally isolated from the outside world, describing the territory as one of the few places on earth where the inhabitants cannot leave.
The comments were made during a Hebrew-language podcast while discussing the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by Israeli attacks. ‘In my opinion, there are only two countries in the world where the people cannot leave. One is North Korea, and the other is not a country. But actually, that place was once a country. That place is the state of Palestine. Yes, that is the reality,’ Netanyahu said, referring to the Gaza Strip. ‘The residents of Gaza are forbidden to leave,’ he added.
The war has left millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip homeless. However, most of them remain and are forced to live amidst the ruins or rubble of destroyed buildings. Israel itself has blockaded the Gaza Strip, both by land and sea, for nearly 15 years, long before the full-scale war in the Palestinian enclave began in October 2023. During the blockade, Israeli forces have only allowed a limited number of Palestinians to enter and exit the territory.
In the podcast, Netanyahu linked the situation to the refusal of third-party countries to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza. He claimed that accepting the refugees has been deemed as effectively aiding Israel’s objectives. ‘People are simply not allowed to leave Gaza. Countries say, ’No, we will not accept them, because that would help Israel’,’ Netanyahu said. ‘I ask: What about helping the residents of Gaza? Why do they not have the same basic right as billions of people around the world?’
Israel launched a massive military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. According to data cited from the Palestinian Health Ministry, the Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of 73,375 Palestinians in Gaza since 7 October 2023, up to 3 August 2026. A further 174,220 people have been wounded, with the death toll expected to be higher as many remain buried under the rubble.