Netanyahu: Israel is not seeking to occupy or administer Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated on Thursday, November 9, that his country is not seeking to conquer, occupy, or administer the Gaza Strip after the war against Hamas. However, he added that if necessary, to prevent terrorist threats, there is a need for 'a credible force' to be present in the region. Earlier, Netanyahu's remarks a few days prior that Israel would be responsible for the security of Gaza drew a response from the United States. In this context, the U.S. State Department stated on November 7, 'The Gaza Strip is Palestinian territory.' Nonetheless, both countries believe that the militant group Hamas should no longer control Gaza. Vedant Patel, the Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said that the Gaza Strip should no longer serve as a base for Hamas and its attacks against Israel. Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of establishing a civilian government in Gaza to ensure that an attack like the one on October 7 will not happen again. He stated that after the war, 'what we should see is a civilian and rebuilt Gaza.' Following attacks by Hamas militants on October 7, over 1,400 people were killed, most of whom were civilians. The group, supported by the Islamic Republic, also kidnapped about 240 Israelis and foreign nationals, including children, women, and the elderly. After these attacks, Israel besieged the Gaza Strip and began its own assaults. In this regard, Hamas, which controls Gaza, claims that over 10,800 people have been killed in these attacks, most of whom are civilians. In response, Israel has asked Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza to relocate to the south and has accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The militant group Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union, the UK, and several other countries. In recent days, U.S. officials, including Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, have stated that the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank should be considered to manage Gaza. Blinken had suggested on October 30 that the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas could take control of the Gaza Strip after Hamas is defeated in the war with Israel. Hamas took control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority forces about 16 years ago. Meanwhile, officials from the Palestinian Authority, including Mahmoud Abbas, say that the return of the Authority to Gaza must be accompanied by a political solution that ends the occupation of territories that Israel seized in the 1967 war. Additionally, Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, stated this week in an interview with PBS that the Authority will not return to Gaza behind Israeli tanks. Netanyahu, in an interview with Fox News regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, indicated that operations in Gaza have 'lasted longer than planned' and stated that a ceasefire is not an option. He said, 'What we did not agree to is a ceasefire.' The Israeli Prime Minister emphasized that a ceasefire with Hamas would mean surrendering to Hamas, yielding to terrorism, and a victory for the terrorism axis led by Iran; therefore, a ceasefire will not be established without the release of Israeli hostages. He also expressed gratitude for the support of U.S. President Joe Biden, the government, Congress, and the American people for his country.