Netanyahu: No Palestinian state, Israel will retain control over Gaza

As the US pushes forward with implementation of phase 2 of the Gaza plan, Netanyahu lays out Israel’s red lines: No Turkish or Qatari forces in Gaza, no Palestinian state, no reconstruction before Hamas disarms.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Tuesday that Israel will retain security control of the Gaza Strip, including during and after the implementation of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

The prime minister held a joint press conference with Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, following the return of the body of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage in the Gaza Strip.

In his statement, Netanyahu noted that with Gvili’s return to Israel, the government has achieved the first of its three goals for the war in Gaza.

“Yesterday, we fully completed the sacred mission of returning all of our hostages,” Netanyahu said, emphasizing that Israel must still achieve its two other goals.

“Now we are focusing on completing the two remaining missions: the disarming of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza from weapons and tunnels.”

“As I agreed with President Trump – you have heard this many times, both from him and from me – there are only two options: It will be done either the easy way or the hard way. But in any case, it will happen!”

Speaking a day after his office announced that Israel will be opening the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border to pedestrian traffic, Netanyahu pushed back on criticism from the Israeli right that the Trump administration’s Gaza plan will ultimately lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

He also addressed concerns on the right that work to rebuild the Gaza Strip could begin without Hamas being disarmed first.

“I hear even now the statements that we will allow the reconstruction of Gaza before demilitarization,” Netanyahu said. “That will not happen. I hear that we will bring Turkish soldiers and Qatari soldiers into Gaza. That will also not happen.”

“I hear that I will allow the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza. That has not happened, and it will not happen.”

Israel will retain security control over the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu continued, despite provisions in the Trump administration’s Gaza plan for a peacekeeping force to take over responsibility from the IDF.

“I think everyone knows that the one who stopped the establishment of a Palestinian state is me, together with my colleagues in the governments I have headed.”

“Today and tomorrow, we will not allow it. Israel will maintain security control over the entire area, from the Jordan to the sea, and that is also true regarding the Gaza Strip.”