PM Netanyahu: Israel Is Not Trying to Evict Gaza Residents or Occupy the Territory

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly stated for the first time that Israel is not trying to displace Palestinians in its war against Hamas, dismissing concerns that the regional leader has an ulterior motive for attacks carried out by his troops.

"We do not intend to evict anyone," PM Netanyahu told Fox News, as quoted by The Times of Israel November 10.

"What we are trying to do is, get Gazans in the northern part of the Gaza Strip where the fighting is taking place, to move one to four miles to the south, where we have established a safe zone," continued PM Netanyahu.

"We want to see field hospitals. We encourage and enable humanitarian aid to be channeled there. That's how we fight this war," he stressed.

On this occasion, PM Netanyahu also provided new details regarding Israel's vision of what Gaza would look like after the war.

"What we have to see is Gaza being demilitarized, deradicalized and rebuilt. All of this can be achieved," he explained.

"We are not trying to conquer Gaza. We are not trying to occupy Gaza. And we are not trying to rule Gaza," Netanyahu added.

That is said to be in line with the stance expressed by US President Joe Biden's administration, which has expressed its desire for the Palestinian Authority to return to governing Gaza in a way that would reunite the territory with the West Bank, politically and pave the way to a two-state solution.

"We must find a civilian government that will rule there. In the future, we must have a credible force that, if necessary, will enter Gaza and kill the murderers. That is what will prevent the emergence of another entity similar to Hamas," said Netanyahu.

Previously, in an interview with ABC News earlier this week, he said Israel would have "overall security responsibility" over the Gaza Strip "for an indefinite period of time" after the war against Hamas ends.

"But what I hope is, the reconstruction of Gaza for the people of Gaza," said PM Netanyahu.