Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel does not seek to conquer, occupy or govern Gaza after its war against Hamas, but a “credible force” would be needed to enter the Palestinian territory if necessary to prevent the emergence of militant threats,
The Guardian reports.
Netanyahu suggested earlier this week that Israel would be responsible for Gaza security indefinitely, drawing pushback from the United States, Israel’s main ally.
Speaking on Fox News on Thursday, the Israeli prime minister said: “We don’t seek to conquer Gaza, we don’t seek to occupy Gaza, and we don’t seek to govern Gaza.”
Netanyahu said a civilian government would need to take shape in the territory but that Israel would make sure the Hamas attacks of 7 October do not happen again. “So, we have to have credible force that, if necessary, will enter Gaza and kill the killers. Because that’s what will prevent the re-emergence of a Hamas-like entity,” Netanyahu said.
It came as Palestinian officials said Israel launched airstrikes on or near at least three hospitals on Friday, further stressing the Palestinian territory’s precarious health system as it struggles to cope with thousands of people wounded or displaced in Israel’s war against Hamas militants. Israel has not responded to the claims.
Palestinian officials said the sites included the grounds of Gaza’s biggest hospital, Al Shifa, which the IDF said was situated in an area it called “the heart of intelligence and operational activities” for Hamas when it planned the 7 October attacks. Hamas and hospital staff have denied this, saying the IDF is using the allegation as a pretext to strike the hospital.
Early on Friday, Gaza ministry of health spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra told Al Jazeera television that Israel targeted the Gaza City medical complex’s courtyard and there were casualties, but he did not provide details. Hospital director Abu Salmiya told Al Jazeera that at least six people had died in the strike.
Palestinian media published video footage of Al Shifa, which Reuters was not immediately able to authenticate, that it said showed the aftermath of an Israeli attack on a parking lot where displaced Palestinians were sheltered and journalists were observing.
