Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel is entering a new phase in Gaza focused on dismantling Hamas’s military capabilities and fully demilitarizing the territory — not on reconstruction.
Speaking at a press conference Netanyahu outlined what he described as the three pillars of Israel’s “absolute victory.” The following remarks are translated from Hebrew.
“Absolute victory rests on three things: the return of all the hostages, the collapse of Hamas, and the demilitarization of Gaza. That is the only way to ensure that Gaza will never again be a threat to Israel.”
Netanyahu said Israel has completed the mission of recovering the hostages and is now shifting its full attention to the remaining objectives.
“The next phase is not reconstruction. We have an interest in advancing this [demilitarization] phase, not delaying it. The sooner we do so, the sooner we will complete the objectives of the war.”
Netanyahu also addressed proposals regarding Gaza’s political future, rejecting them outright. “I will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza. It did not happen, and it will not happen,” he said.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel will retain overarching security control across the region. “Israel will control security throughout the entire area from the Jordan River to the sea,” he said. “This is also true in the Gaza Strip.”
Achieving peace or rehabilitation is impossible until the Gaza Strip is completely rid of the threat posed by Hamas and it is prevented from regaining power. Netanyahu’s remarks further highlight Israel’s position that demilitarization and Israeli security oversight are critical prerequisites and not merely next steps for future discussions concerning reconstruction or political agreements.