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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel will assume "total responsibility for security" in the Gaza Strip indefinitely following the conclusion of the conflict with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.
During an interview with ABC News, when questioned about who would govern the Palestinian enclave after the war, Netanyahu stated, "those who don't want to continue on the path of Hamas."
He emphasized Israel's commitment to ongoing security management in the Palestinian enclave, saying, "Israel will assume, indefinitely, overall responsibility for security." He added, "As we've witnessed the consequences of not having this responsibility. When we lack security oversight, we witness the escalation of Hamas terrorism on an unprecedented scale."
In the same interview, Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip until the hostages held by Hamas since the attack on October 7 are released.
Netanyahu asserted, "There will be no ceasefire, no general ceasefire in Gaza, without the release of the hostages." This statement coincided with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' renewed appeal to end the "humanitarian nightmare in Gaza," which he described as a "graveyard of children."
Regarding short-term pauses in military operations, Netanyahu referred to a White House statement suggesting the possibility of brief interruptions in Israeli actions to facilitate the safe evacuation of civilians, ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, and potentially secure the release of hostages.
Addressing his government's responsibility for the October 7 attack, Netanyahu acknowledged, "Of course," and acknowledged that it would need to be resolved after the war, acknowledging a failure to protect Israeli citizens.
Since October 7, Israeli authorities report that over 1,400 individuals, primarily civilians, have been killed on the Israeli side, with the deadliest attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement since Israel's establishment in 1948. Hamas also took more than 240 hostages and transferred them to Gaza.
According to Hamas's Health Ministry, as of the latest figures, over 10,022 people, including more than 4,000 children, have lost their lives in Gaza due to extensive air, sea, and land bombardments.
Netanyahu also mentioned a return to the status quo in Gaza before 2005 when Israeli forces withdrew from the Palestinian enclave after 38 years of occupation.
In summary, Netanyahu announced Israel's commitment to long-term security control in post-war Gaza, emphasizing the need for the release of hostages before considering a ceasefire. The situation remains complex, with international involvement and discussions about the future governance of the Gaza Strip.
[With information sourced from Reuters]
