RT quoted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement on November 9 saying that Tel Aviv has no intention of taking control of the Gaza Strip after the conflict with Hamas, but will seek to establish a "reliable political force" to ensure that the territory is no longer a threat to Israel.
The statement was made by Mr. Netanyahu in an interview with Fox News channel, the Israeli Prime Minister said that Tel Aviv has outlined plans for Gaza after the conflict, emphasizing that Israeli forces will not attempt to force local residents to leave the area where they live after the conflict ends.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo: CNN)
“What we have to see is Gaza demilitarized, de-governmentd and rebuilt. All these goals are achievable,” Netanyahu said, stressing that “we do not seek to conquer Gaza. We do not seek to occupy Gaza and we do not seek to rule Gaza.”
However, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel would need to create a “credible force” that could ensure security in the Gaza Strip at any time, arguing that it was necessary to prevent an Islamist extremist force like Hamas from emerging.
The Fox interview comes just days after Netanyahu announced that Israel would take over security in Gaza after the conflict, without giving a specific timeline. The statement is in stark contrast to previous statements by the Israeli government about Gaza's future.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant even said that Israeli forces would establish a “new security state” in the region, but stressed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would not be responsible for “everyday life” in the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Netanyahu also added that Tel Aviv supports the establishment of a new “civilian government” for the people of Gaza, he did not specify Tel Aviv's role in this process or how this government would be built.
The United States, Tel Aviv’s top ally, has voiced support for Israel’s military action to eliminate Hamas after the October 7 attacks, but U.S. officials have urged their ally not to pursue a “reoccupation” of Gaza. However, when asked who might rule the Palestinian enclave after the fighting subsides, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the White House “has no answer to that question” and stressed that anyone would be better than Hamas.
Israel first occupied Gaza in the 1967 Six-Day War with Egypt, Jordan and Syria, only withdrawing its troops and settlers nearly 40 years later. However, the rise of Hamas to power in the enclave in 2007 led to a tight blockade of the territory, and Israel has carried out a series of bombing campaigns in the area ever since.
Tra Khanh (Source: russian.rt.com)
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