WhatsappPrime Minister Netanyahu held a press conference for foreign journalists to help explain his Gaza take over plan.
“Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists in Gaza. They vow to repeat the savagery of the October 7th Massacre and to do so again, and again, and again. It openly professes its goals to destroy Israel. It subjugates Gazans, it steals their food, and it shoots them when they try to move to safe zones. It’s instructive that now, many Gazans are fighting back. They’re begging us and the world, ‘Free us, and free Gaza from Hamas,'” Netanyahu opened.
He continued: “No nation could accept a genocidal terrorist organization, an organization committed to its annihilation, a stone’s throw from its citizens. Our goal is not to occupy Gaza; our goal is to free Gaza. Free it from Hamas terrorists. The war can end tomorrow if Hamas lays down its arms and releases all the remaining hostages.”
Netanyahu described a post-war Gaza: “Gaza will be demilitarized; Israel will have overriding security responsibility; a security zone will be established on Gaza’s border with Israel to prevent future terrorist encursions; a civilian administration would be established in Gaza that will seek to live in peace with Israel.”
He added, “Given Hamas’s refusal to lay down its arms, Israel has to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas.”
Netanyahu noted that between 70-75% of the Gaza Strip is currently under Israeli military control, and the only remaining areas are Gaza City and the central camps. “Last week, the Security Cabinet instructed the IDF to dismantle the Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the central camps. Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily.”
