Tel AVIV, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not allow the Palestinian Authority to take control of the Gaza Strip “the day after the war”.
He stressed that Tel Aviv will be “responsible and involved in the process of disarming the Gaza Strip” after the end of military operations.
Israeli media quoted Netanyahu as saying during a security meeting, “Any representative of Hamas or the Palestinian Authority will not be part of the Gaza administration in the future”.
He pointed out that “Israel’s security requires a radical change in the security and political reality within the Gaza Strip”.
Netanyahu added, “Israel will be responsible and involved in the complete disarmament of Gaza”.
He stressed that this matter is “a basic condition for any future arrangements”.
Regarding the ongoing negotiations on the hostage file, the Israeli Prime Minister stressed that his government “will not advance towards any of the items in US President Donald Trump’s plan before releasing all hostages, living and dead”.
Netanyahu also warned: “If the hostages are not released by the end of the deadline set by President Trump, Israel will return to fighting with the full support of all countries concerned”.
Netanyahu’s statements come at a time when indirect negotiations continue between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
This is amid indications of limited progress in efforts to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
