Netanyahu Reiterates Opposition to Palestinian Sovereignty Over Gaza After War

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, reiterated his opposition to any Palestinian sovereignty over Gaza after the war in a statement released on Saturday, January 30, a day after his phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden. The statement from Netanyahu's office appears to reject Biden's proposal to bridge the gap between the views of the two leaders regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state. According to the Associated Press, Netanyahu told Biden during their call on Friday that his position on Gaza has not changed since the end of the war. The Israeli Prime Minister emphasized to Biden that after the destruction of Hamas, Israel must maintain security control over Gaza, which the statement notes is 'mandatory [and] contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty.' On Friday, Biden had mentioned that 'there are several forms of a two-state solution.' He noted that some UN members do not have an army. In response to a question about whether a two-state solution is impossible with Netanyahu as Prime Minister, Biden said, 'No, it is not.' Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that the war in Gaza will continue until 'complete victory' and ensuring that Hamas is no longer a threat to Israel. However, he has not specified how this will be achieved. Some of Netanyahu's critics argue that establishing a ceasefire is the only way to guarantee the freedom of hostages held by Hamas. They accuse him of not allowing discussion and debate about the situation in Gaza after the war in cabinet meetings. Netanyahu believes that the only way to free the hostages is through the destruction of Hamas by continuing severe attacks against the group in the Gaza Strip. During Hamas's terrorist attack on southern Israel on October 7, 1,200 people, including children, women, and the elderly, were killed, and over 240 others were taken hostage. Israel claims that there are still 130 hostages in Gaza, although approximately 100 of them are believed to be alive. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. A source familiar with the Biden-Netanyahu phone conversation stated that the Israeli Prime Minister does not reject the two-state solution. Biden and Netanyahu's phone call; John Kirby: The U.S. is still opposed to a general ceasefire. The European Union's efforts to mediate peace between Israel and the Arabs and Palestinians. Discussion between the defense ministers of Israel and the U.S. regarding the latest developments in the Gaza war. The Israeli army reported the killing of a senior Islamic Jihad official in Gaza.