Netanyahu: Israel to take full control of Gaza, then hand it to Arab forces
IDF chief signals disagreement ahead of UN Security Council talks on potential occupation
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will seize temporary control of Gaza before handing it to “Arab forces”, in remarks that prompted a rare public split with the military.
“We don’t want to keep it. We want to have a security perimeter, and we don’t want to govern it. We want to give it to Arab forces,” Netanyahu told Fox News on Thursday.
His comments come as the UN Security Council prepares to meet to discuss Israel’s potential plan to occupy the Strip, nearly ten months into the war against Hamas.
Shortly before the session, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir signalled that the army does not back a full occupation of Gaza and would raise its concerns in the meeting.
“We are dealing with matters of life and death, in the defence of the country, and we do so while looking toward our soldiers and the civilians of Israel,” said Zamir. “We will continue to act with responsibility, integrity, and determination – with only the security and well-being of Israel in mind.”
Netanyahu did not clarify which Arab nations might take over control of Gaza, nor the terms of such a transfer. The prime minister made the remarks while attending a Christian conference in Jerusalem.
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