Washington, November 10, 2023 (Online Desk) :
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday rejected a ceasefire in Gaza, saying the military was performing “remarkably well”. But he insists that Israel has no plans to reoccupy Palestinian land.
“A cease-fire with Hamas means surrender,” he told Fox News, noting there was no “timetable” for the military offensive.
“I think the Israeli army is performing exceptionally well,” Netanyahu said.
“As long as it takes, we will do it,” he said.
Retaliatory airstrikes and ground attacks have killed more than 10,800 people in Gaza, mostly civilians and many of them children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Netanyahu said Israel has no plans to stay in Gaza for the long term.
“We don’t want to rule Gaza. We don’t want to take it over, but we want to give it and us a better future.’
Referring to this, he said, Israel “does not want to displace anyone.”
Underlining his plans for Gaza’s future, he said the impoverished and besieged territory must be “demilitarized, de-radicalized and rebuilt.”
“We have to find a government, a civilian government that will be there,” he said, but did not elaborate on who might form such a government.
Netanyahu said Israeli forces must be ready to re-enter Gaza and “kill the killers”.
“This is what will prevent the resurgence of an entity like Hamas.”
The October 7 attack and subsequent conflict came as Israel moved closer to a peace treaty with Saudi Arabia. Based on the so-called Abraham Accords that normalized relations with several Arab countries.
Netanyahu insisted that the conflict would not derail diplomatic momentum and that conditions would be “ripe” to resume talks after Israel destroys Hamas.
