Who will govern Gaza after the war? Netanyahu answers
While Israel conducts an aerial and ground attack on the Gaza Strip, in response to an attack by Hamas in southern Israel last month, questions have arisen about what comes after the war and who will rule Gaza.
Some of these questions were answered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who provided hints on some and confirmed that the State of Israel will assume “comprehensive security responsibility” in the Gaza Strip for an unspecified period after the ongoing war against Hamas.
Netanyahu stated in an interview with the American network ABC News, “Israel will assume comprehensive security responsibility for an unspecified period in Gaza,” adding, “When we do not assume this security responsibility, we face the eruption of Hamas terrorism on an unimaginable scale.”
In response to a question about the party expected to govern Gaza after the war, Netanyahu said, “Those who do not wish to continue down the path of Hamas.”
Will Israel stop the fire? Regarding a ceasefire, Netanyahu emphasized that there would be no ceasefire in the Gaza Strip unless Hamas releases the hostages it has held since its sudden and unprecedented attack on the State of Israel on October 7th of the previous year. He added, “There will be no ceasefire – a comprehensive ceasefire – in Gaza without the release of our hostages.”
He further stated, “As for a short-term ceasefire here and there, that has happened before (…). I think we will consider the circumstances to allow goods – humanitarian goods – to enter or for our hostages to leave, but I do not believe there will be a comprehensive ceasefire.”
The Israeli Prime Minister stressed that any long-term ceasefire would benefit Hamas, stating, “This would hinder our efforts to free our hostages, as the only thing that affects Hamas is the military pressure we exert.”
In response to a question about whether he considered himself responsible for the unprecedented attack launched by Hamas just a month ago, Netanyahu said, “Of course (…). There is no doubt about that, and this is something that must be addressed after the war,” acknowledging that his government had clearly failed to fulfill its commitment to protect its people.
Hamas launched a sudden and unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7th of the previous year, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,400 people, the majority of whom were civilians who died in the initial days of the attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Additionally, Hamas took 241 hostages with them, who they continue to hold in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israeli army.
In response to this attack, Israel has relentlessly bombarded the Gaza Strip, and more than ten thousand people have been killed so far due to this bombing, the majority of whom are civilians, including over four thousand children, according to the Hamas government.
