Premier: ‘Israel Doesn’t Seek To Conquer Gaza’
By Worthy News’ George Whitten and Stefan J. Bos
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s prime minister said Thursday that his nation is not seeking to conquer, occupy, or govern the Gaza Strip after its war with Hamas ends.
Benjamin Netanyahu told US television network Fox News that a “credible force” would be needed to enter the enclave if necessary to prevent the emergence of terror threats.
Netanyahu’s comments this week suggesting that Israel would be responsible for Gaza security indefinitely drew pushback from the United States, Israel’s main ally.
Washington has said it would oppose Israeli post-war occupation of Gaza as it supports a “two-state solution,” referring to two states for two peoples: Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for Palestinians.
“We don’t seek to conquer Gaza, we don’t seek to occupy Gaza, and we don’t seek to govern Gaza,” Netanyahu stressed.
He made clear, however, that a civilian government would be required. Israel also has to ensure that an attack like that of October 7, in which Hamas killed about 1,400 people, doesn’t happen again, he said.
“So, we have to have a credible force that, if necessary, will enter Gaza and kill the killers. Because that’s what will prevent the re-emergence of a Hamas-like entity.”
MILITARY PAUSES
His comments came after the United States said Israel would begin to implement four-hour military pauses in areas of northern Gaza each day to allow civilians to flee.
U.S. President Joe Biden called it a “step in the right direction,” adding that he will continue to advocate for aid to the territory.
Earlier, the Israeli military said, “There are tactical, local pauses for humanitarian aid for Gazan civilians” but made clear that “there is no ceasefire” till Hamas is destroyed and hostages are released.
The Islamic Jihad group in Gaza, like Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by Israel, also released a video of two Israeli hostages – an older woman and a boy.
It came as heavy fighting was reported around two major hospitals in Gaza City, as Israel said its troops are battling Hamas fighters deep inside the area.
Israel began striking Gaza after the Hamas attacks on October 7 after the worst atrocities against Jews since the Holocaust, which also saw more than 200 taken hostage.
More than 10,800 people have been killed in Gaza since, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, including more than 4,400 children. It was unclear how many Hamas gunmen were among the victims, and the death toll figures were complex to verify independently.
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