Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that there will be no ceasefire in Gaza as the military offensive is going well. However, he emphasized that Israel has no plans to reoccupy the Palestinian territory. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said that a ceasefire with Hamas would mean surrender and that there is no specific timetable for the military operation.
Netanyahu praised the Israeli army, stating that they are performing exceptionally well and that they will continue the offensive for as long as it takes. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the group crossed the border from Gaza on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and the taking of around 240 hostages, according to Israel’s claims.
The retaliatory bombings and ground offensive by Israel have led to the deaths of over 10,800 people in Gaza, with the majority being civilians and many of them children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Netanyahu stated that Israel does not plan to remain in Gaza in the long term. He emphasized the need for Gaza to be demilitarized, deradicalized, and rebuilt. Netanyahu also mentioned the importance of establishing a civilian government in Gaza, without specifying who would form such a government. He added that Israeli forces would need to remain prepared to reenter Gaza if necessary to prevent the reemergence of a Hamas-like entity.
The attack on October 7 and the subsequent conflict occurred as Israel was moving towards a peace deal with Saudi Arabia, building on the Abraham Accords that normalized ties with several Arab countries. Netanyahu expressed confidence that the conflict would not derail diplomatic momentum and that conditions would be favorable for negotiations to resume after Hamas is destroyed.
(Note: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff except for the headline.)
