Netanyahu: Victory Over Hamas Looks Like This
The Prime Minister reiterated the victory principles of the cabinet decision last week as the sole basis for ending the war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement today (Thursday) outlining his conditions for ending the war in Gaza, a reassertion of the cabinet decision last week to eliminate the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the central camps:
"One week ago, I convened the Security Cabinet and we determined five principles for the conclusion of the war:
"1. Hamas is to be disarmed.
"2. All hostages – the living and the deceased – are to be returned. We will not give up on a single one.
"3. The Strip is to be demilitarized. Not only must Hamas be disarmed, but it must be ensured that weapons will be neither produced in the Strip nor smuggled into the Strip.
"4. There will be Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip, including the security perimeter.
"5. There will be an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority – people who will neither educate their children for terrorism, nor finance terrorism, nor dispatch terrorism.
"These five principles will ensure the security of Israel. This is the meaning of the word 'victory'."
Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich responded on X by saying:
"Dear Prime Minister, Very correct and just principles. But you are missing one important one - perhaps the most important - no stopping until victory!"
Mossad Director Dedi Barnea is reportedly on his way to Qatar for unclear reasons, possibly to restart negotiations on the basis of the terms laid out by the cabinet decisions.
Meanwhile Defense Minister Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir met today to begin agreeing on military plans to occupy Gaza City in the event negotiations fail to result in a deal on Israel's terms. Some 80,000 to 100,000 soldiers are expected to be needed for the operation.