“Eliminate more than 8,000 Hamas members… It will take several more months to achieve victory.”
The Minister of National Defense and others refused to participate in the press conference… “Opposition to block official discussion of post-war issues”
Protests demanding the resignation of the prime minister in Tel Aviv and other places… Netanyahu refuses
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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(Cairo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Sang-hoon = Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the issue of handling the Gaza Strip after the destruction of Hamas will be discussed at a cabinet meeting this week.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said at his weekly press conference on the evening of the 30th (local time), the 85th day of the war against Hamas, “The National Security Committee has held eight meetings to discuss issues following the war in the Gaza Strip,” and “This issue will be discussed at the Cabinet meeting this week.” “It will happen,” he said.
Israel, which launched a counterattack after receiving a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7, has been passive in dealing with the issue of handling the post-war Gaza Strip.
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On the other hand, the US administration of Joe Biden has been pressuring the Israeli government, saying it needs to establish a clear post-war plan.
In particular, the Biden administration’s position is that the Palestinian Authority (PA), which currently governs the West Bank, should play a role in governing the Gaza Strip after destroying Hamas.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Netanyahu has maintained the position that the PA, which is hostile to Israel, should not intervene in post-war governance of the Gaza Strip and that the Israeli military should have control over security in the Gaza Strip after the war.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu is known to have formed a team with a small number of his closest associates and secretly discussed plans for dealing with the Gaza Strip after the war.
Also, on the 28th, an exhibition ministerial meeting was scheduled to begin formal discussions on post-war plans, but it was reportedly canceled due to opposition from far-right coalition partners.
Prime Minister Netanyahu said at a press conference that day, “Israel is continuing the fight on all fronts.”
Israel is not only engaged in a war in the Gaza Strip to eliminate Hamas, but is also engaged in armed confrontation with Hamas supporters in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, which calls itself the ‘Axis of Resistance’.
In particular, there has been a recent trend of strengthening offensives targeting the Lebanese armed faction Hezbollah and hostile forces in Syria.
Gaza Strip with black smoke rising after Israeli airstrike
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Prime Minister Netanyahu went on to say that so far, more than 8,000 Hamas terrorists have been eliminated and Hamas’ military capabilities are being destroyed step by step.
However, he said that it would take more time to win the war against Hamas, predicting that it would take several more months.
He emphasized, “The fight will continue until all goals of eradicating Hamas and bringing back the hostages are achieved,” and added, “We will ensure a situation in which Hamas does not pose a threat to Israel.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu also sent a strong warning message to Hezbollah and Iran, which support Hamas and intervene in the war.
He raised his voice, saying, “If Hezbollah expands its fight, it will suffer attacks it has never dreamed of before. The same goes for Iran,” and added, “We will mobilize all means to restore the safety of the people.”
Local media, including the Times of Israel, reported that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz, who is participating in the war cabinet, were invited to the press conference that day, but declined to attend.
Channel 13 reported that the reason for the absence of Minister Gallant and Representative Gantz was their opposition to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has been blocking the ‘post-Hamas’ discussion.
Israeli citizens call for Netanyahu to step down
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Meanwhile, at a rally demanding the release of hostages held in Tel Aviv on this day, voices continued to call for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s resignation and early general elections.
They called for a halt to the war, saying that Israeli soldiers and Gaza residents are being sacrificed due to the government’s stubborn policy of sticking to the war.
Additionally, protests demanding the prime minister’s resignation were held near Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence in northern Caesarea and near the prime minister’s official residence in Jerusalem.
However, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that he would not step down until the war was over, saying, “The only target I will say goodbye to is Hamas.”
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2023/12/31 05:26 Sent
#Netanyahu #Issues #related #postwar #handling #Gaza #addressed #weeks #cabinet #meeting
2023-12-30 20:26:25
