Israeli leader rules out ceasefire but suggests openness to “small tactical pauses” in conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that his country will ensure security in the Gaza Strip long after the war with Hamas ends.
Asked on Monday who should govern Gaza after the war, Netanyahu said he believes Israel will take responsibility for security for an “undetermined period of time.”
“If we don’t have this security responsibility, there will be an outbreak of Hamas terrorism on a scale that we cannot imagine,” Netanyahu said in an interview with ABC News.
Netanyahu’s comments came after US President Joe Biden, his closest ally, warned Israel last month against a full occupation of the Gaza Strip, saying it would be “a big mistake”.
While Biden has strongly supported Netanyahu’s war against Hamas, the two leaders have disagreed on tactics, including efforts to prevent civilian casualties and the need for lulls in fighting to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.
On Monday, Netanyahu reiterated that he would not accept a ceasefire until Hamas releases its prisoners in Gaza, but signaled his openness to “small tactical pauses” to allow the movement of people and supplies.
“Without the release of our hostages, there will be no ceasefire, no general ceasefire in Gaza. As far as tactical little breaks, an hour here, an hour there – we’ve had them before,” Netanyahu said.
“I assume that we will examine the circumstances to allow the arrival of goods and humanitarian supplies or the departure of our hostages, individual hostages. But I don’t think there will be a general ceasefire.”
Israel is coming under increasing international pressure to stop the bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which was launched in response to Hamas attacks on October 7 that killed at least 1,405 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an urgent ceasefire, warning that the enclave had become a “graveyard for children.”
Biden urged Netanyahu to agree to “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid deliveries to the enclave, but backed the Israeli leader’s opposition to a full ceasefire.
On Monday, the Israeli military said it had “coordinated” with Jordan to airdrop urgent medical supplies and food to a Jordanian field hospital in the enclave.
At least 10,022 Palestinians, including more than 4,100 children, have been killed in Gaza during the months-long war, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled enclave.
Netanyahu said on Monday that the loss of any civilian life was a “tragedy” but disputed the reported death toll, saying it numbered “several thousand” Palestinian fighters.
The Israeli leader also accused Hamas of using Gaza’s population as human shields.
“It is a very tough enemy, but we cannot give it immunity,” he said.