From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Netanyahu says Israel will retain security control of Gaza, calls for deradicalization of population like in Germany, Japan after WWII
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Netanyahu says the war in Gaza would end tomorrow if Hamas “surrenders, disarms and returns all the hostages.
But if it doesn’t, “Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home.”
“That’s what total victory means and we will settle for nothing less,” he says.
The day after we defeat Hamas a new Gaza can emerge, he says. “My vision for that day is for a demilitarized and deradicalized Gaza.”
He says Israel “does not seek to resettle Gaza,” but must maintain overall security control for the foreseeable future to make sure Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.
Gaza should have a civilian administration run by Palestinians who don’t seek to destroy Israel, he says. “That’s not too much to ask.”
The next generation of Palestinians must learn to live alongside Jews, he says, calling for deradicalization of the Palestinians in Gaza and comparing that imperative need to what happened in Japan and Germany after World War II.
The demilitarization and deradicalization of Gaza can lead to security, prosperity and peace, he says, saying that this is his “vision” for Gaza.
