Netanyahu says Israel eyeing several candidates to govern Gaza Strip after Hamas is disarmed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has identified “several candidates” for a “transitional authority” to govern Gaza after the war, stressing that Hamas disarmament would come first in any postwar plan and that Israel does not seek to remain in the Strip.

Netanyahu says multiple Arab countries agree with Israel on the requirement for Hamas disarmament: “It’s instructive that some of the Arab countries, quite a few of them actually, said that Hamas has to be disarmed. I think this is the starting point.”

“There are several candidates that we’re talking about, several constructs. And it’s a transitional period, a transitional authority,” he continues, emphasizing, “We don’t want to stay in Gaza, that’s not our purpose.”

He adds that he makes this clear even “to those who disagree with me – there are some who do,” likely referring to far-right members of his coalition who openly call for permanent occupation of Gaza.

“Our goal is to make sure that Hamas isn’t there and that what replaces Hamas does not educate for terrorism, pay for terrorism, launch terrorism, but is willing to live in peace. There are candidates… the chances of succeeding here… I think they’re real… providing we finish the job,” he says.

“We can’t talk about the day after until eternity. No one’s going to go in there unless we finish Hamas. And we’re able to finish Hamas. And we will finish Hamas,” he says.