Netanyahu Outlines Israel’s Plan for Taking Control of Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel does intend to take full control of the Gaza Strip but does not want to rule the territory long-term.  

“Well, we don’t want to keep it,” Netanyahu said in an interview Thursday with Fox News’ Bill Hemmer. “We want to have a security perimeter, but we don’t want to govern it, … we want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly, without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life,” the Israeli leader said.  

It will not be possible for Israel to be kept safe, or for the people of Gaza to have a better life, unless Hamas is no longer able to rule, according to Netanyahu.  

“They have to go,” Netanyahu said of Hamas, adding, “I think President [Donald] Trump has said it, you know, you have to see two things in Gaza: You have to see Hamas eliminated, and you have to have the hostages released.”  

There are still 50 hostages being held in Gaza, 20 of whom are thought to be still alive 22 months to the day after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel that left some 1,200 dead.

Netanyahu told Hemmer that Israel is doing everything it can to “salvage” the hostages and says he thinks they can be saved, but indicated “military pressure” will be the only way to free them.  

The prime minister said Israel is well on its way to achieving its goals of freeing all the hostages, defeating Hamas, and ensuring Gaza never poses a threat to Israel again.  

Netanyahu made the comments shortly before the start of a meeting with his Security Cabinet to discuss plans to expand Israel’s operation in Gaza to achieve the aim of taking full control of the Gaza Strip.  

Early Friday morning, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved Netanyahu’s plan and the Prime Minister’s Office announced that the Israel Defense Forces “will prepare for taking control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside the combat zones.”

This piece was updated after publication to include the Israeli Security Cabinet’s approval of Netanyahu’s plan in Gaza.