Pushed on his plan for Gaza’s future, he said the impoverished and blockaded territory must be “demilitarized, deradicalised and rebuilt.”
“We’ll have to find a government, a civilian government that will be there,” he added, without detailing who might form such a government.
And he said Israeli forces would have to remain ready to reenter Gaza and “kill the killers”.
“That’s what will prevent the reemergence of a Hamas-like entity.”
The October 7 attack and subsequent conflict came as Israel moved closer to a peace deal with Saudi Arabia, building on the so-called Abraham accords that normalised ties with several Arab countries.
Netanyahu insisted the conflict would not torpedo diplomatic momentum and that conditions would be “ripe” for negotiations to resume after Israel destroys Hamas.
“I think conditions will be ripe. In fact, after a victory, I think they’ll be even riper.”
AFP