Netanyahu’s office says PM discussed his approach to postwar Gaza governance with Blinken

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a “governing framework” for Gaza on the “day after the war” during his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jerusalem earlier today, his office says.

The Israeli readout doesn’t provide any details on what that governing structure might look like. Since the outbreak of the war, the US has pressed Israel to conduct such planning, warning that Israel will get bogged down in Gaza if it fails to do so. Netanyahu for much of the war pushed back on such calls, arguing that the process was all but futile so long as Hamas remains in Gaza.

But the US pressure appears to have gradually moved Jerusalem, given that Netanyahu’s office made a point in including the issue in its statement on his meeting with Blinken.

The premier also updated Blinken on the progress of Israel’s fighting in Gaza and on the steps it is taking to free its remaining 101 hostages.

Netanyahu reiterated to Blinken his belief that Israel’s killing of Yahya Sinwar “may positively impact efforts to return the hostages, achieve Israel’s other war aims and plan for the “day after the war,” the Israeli readout says.

Much of the Israeli readout focuses on Iran.

Netanyahu raised “the need for both countries to join forces against” the the threat of Iran and thanked Blinken for the support of the US “in the fight against Iran’s axis of evil and terrorism,” the Israeli readout says.

The readout notes that Blinken expressed his “shock” over the “Iranian attempt through Hezbollah to assassinate the prime minister of Israel” in a drone strike on Netanyahu’s Caesarea home over the weekend, adding that this was a very serious and unprecedented attack.

Netanyahu thanked the Blinken for his stance and asserted that the drone strike cannot be ignored.

Netanyahu went on to update Blinken on the IDF’s operations in Lebanon “and the need to establish a security and political change in the north that would allow Israel to return its residents safely to their homes.”

Netanyahu’s office characterizes the meeting as “friendly and productive,” adding that the pair met one-on-one before being joined by their staffs over a period that extended for two-and-a-half hours.