After US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statement that Israel cannot occupy Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken a U-turn over his earlier comments hinting at taking control of the besieged territory after Hanas war.
In an interview with Fox News, the Israeli prime minister said that his country is not seeking to conquer, occupy or govern the Gaza Strip after its war with Hamas ends, but added that a “credible force” would be needed to enter the enclave if necessary to prevent the emergence of “militant” threats.
“We don’t seek to conquer Gaza, we don’t seek to occupy Gaza, and we don’t seek to govern Gaza,” he said, adding that a civilian government would be required, but that Israel would also need to ensure that an attack like that of 7 October, in which Hamas killed about 1,400 people, doesn’t happen again.
“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,” he said.