Washington:
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dominated out a ceasefire in Gaza on Thursday, saying the army was performing “exceptionally effectively,” however insisted Israel doesn’t plan to reoccupy the Palestinian territory.
“A ceasefire with Hamas means give up,” he informed Fox Information, including there was no “timetable” for the army offensive.
“I believe the Israeli military is performing exceptionally effectively,” he added.
“Nonetheless lengthy it takes, we’ll do it.”
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the group poured throughout the border from Gaza on October 7, killing 1,400 individuals, largely civilians and taking round 240 individuals hostage, in response to Israel.
The retaliatory aerial bombing and floor offensive has killed greater than 10,800 individuals in Gaza, largely civilians and lots of of them youngsters, in response to the Hamas-run well being ministry.
Netanyahu mentioned Israel has no plans to stay in Gaza longterm.
“We do not search to control Gaza. We do not search to occupy it, however we search to provide it and us a greater future,” he mentioned, including that Israel doesn’t “search to displace anybody.”
Pushed on his plan for Gaza’s future, he mentioned the impoverished and blockaded territory have to be “demilitarised, deradicalised and rebuilt.”
“We’ll need to discover a authorities, a civilian authorities that will likely be there,” he added, with out detailing who would possibly type such a authorities.
And he mentioned Israeli forces must stay able to reenter Gaza and “kill the killers”.
“That is what’s going to forestall the reemergence of a Hamas-like entity.”
The October 7 assault and subsequent battle got here as Israel moved nearer to a peace cope with Saudi Arabia, constructing on the so-called Abraham accords that normalised ties with a number of Arab international locations.
Netanyahu insisted the battle wouldn’t torpedo diplomatic momentum and that circumstances can be “ripe” for negotiations to renew after Israel destroys Hamas.
“I believe circumstances will likely be ripe. In truth, after a victory, I believe they will be even riper.”
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