Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, unequivocally rejected the idea of a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the Israeli military’s outstanding performance.
In an interview with Fox News, he asserted,
“A ceasefire with Hamas means surrender. I think the Israeli army is performing exceptionally well. However long it takes, we’ll do it.”
Addressing the post-conflict scenario, Netanyahu stated that Israel has no intention of occupying or governing Gaza. Instead, he outlined a vision for the enclave to be “demilitarized, deradicalized, and rebuilt.”
He expressed the need for a civilian government in Gaza but did not specify who would lead it, saying,
“We don’t seek to govern Gaza, we don’t seek to occupy it but we seek to give it and us a better future and that requires defeating Hamas. I’ve set goals, I didn’t set a timetable because it can take more time.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reiterated Netanyahu’s position in a tweet, asserting,
“There is no ceasefire. There are tactical, local pauses for humanitarian aid for Gazan civilians. These tactical pauses are limited in time and area. We are also providing humanitarian corridors for civilians in Gaza to temporarily move south to safer areas where they can receive humanitarian aid.
“Our war is with Hamas and not with the people of Gaza.”
Netanyahu’s recent comments stirred controversy, especially regarding Israel taking responsibility for Gaza’s security indefinitely after the conflict concludes.
The United States expressed disagreement with this stance, with White House national security spokesperson John Kirby stating that President Joe Biden does not consider reoccupying Gaza to be the “right thing to do.”
US officials have previously suggested the possibility of the Palestinian Authority governing Gaza post-war.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has emphasized that such a scenario would only be feasible through a political solution, including the return of territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.
| Sahara Reporters
