Title: Netanyahu opposes Palestinian Authority gaining control of Gaza after war
Against the backdrop of ongoing fighting and maneuvering in the Gaza Strip, the issue of who will take control of the territory after the war ends continues to be a point of contention. The political echelon in Israel remains preoccupied with this issue, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his opposition to the Palestinian Authority taking control of Gaza during a discussion held in the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee on Monday.
During the discussion, Netanyahu vehemently attacked the Palestinian Authority and asserted that they would not be capable of controlling Gaza under any circumstances. He emphasized that security responsibility would remain with the State of Israel. “The difference between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority is only that Hamas wants to destroy us here and now, and the Authority wants to do it in stages,” Netanyahu stated.
This stance has also been echoed by other members of the Knesset, with Member of Knesset Marev Michaeli stressing the need for a political vision beyond the fighting, and Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb emphasizing that there can be no political vision with terrorists.
Netanyahu also discussed the recent telephone conversation he had with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, where he emphasized the problematic relationship between Russia and Iran. The Prime Minister thanked the President for assistance in returning kidnapped citizens of Russian origin, but beyond that, he declined to go into detail.
The issue of the Palestinian Authority gaining control of Gaza has been a subject of international pressure on Israel, particularly from US President Joe Biden. However, Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed this, citing the Palestinian Authority’s inability to accept responsibility for Gaza in its current form. He has stated that as long as he is the Prime Minister of Israel, this will not happen.
The discussion comes in the wake of reports that Palestinian Authority Chairman Abu Mazen is interested in gaining control over Gaza and the West Bank. Ultimately, the issue of who will control Gaza after the war and how it will affect regional and international relations remains to be resolved.