Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that discussions about who would govern the Gaza Strip post-war are irrelevant as long as Hamas retains military capabilities.
"No entity would be willing to assume civil administration out of fear for their safety. The elimination of Hamas is essential to ensure no entity threatens us in Gaza 'the day after,'" Netanyahu said in a video message posted on his social media.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari
(Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit, AFP, Roy Avraham, Ltd)
"About a hundred days ago, I authorized security forces to allow Gazan locals not associated with Hamas to manage food distribution in Gaza. This attempt failed because Hamas threatened any civilians willing to step up and even targeted some to deter others."
"In any case, there is no substitute for military victory," Netanyahu said in his post. "Attempts to bypass it for any reason are simply unrealistic. There is only one alternative to victory: defeat. Military and diplomatic defeat, national defeat. My government will not agree to that.
"We are evacuating civilians and fulfilling our commitment to their humanitarian needs. So far, close to half a million people have been evacuated from the combat zones in Rafah. The predicted humanitarian catastrophe did not occur, nor will it."
On Tuesday, IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari was asked about the IDF returning to operate in areas it had already cleared. He replied, "Regarding what will replace Hamas, there is no doubt that an alternative to Hamas creates pressure on Hamas, but this is a question for the political echelon."