Israel’s Leader Rules Out Gaza Transfer to Palestinian Authority and Addresses Escalating Conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out transferring control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian National Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas. He indicated that handing over governance to Ramallah would not align with Israel’s current security priorities or regional realities, and his remarks were carried by major outlets including TASS as part of ongoing coverage.
Netanyahu emphasized that the Palestinian Authority leadership did not publicly condemn Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 and asserted that transferring Gaza to Palestinian control would not make strategic sense after the Israeli Defense Forces intensified operations. He stressed that the focus remained on countering the threat in Gaza while safeguarding Israeli security interests, rather than pursuing administrative restructuring in the middle of a military campaign.
In parallel, Abbas described Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal, escalating tensions and drawing sharp reactions from regional and international observers. The exchange underscored the deep divisions between Israeli and Palestinian leadership amid a rapidly deteriorating security situation in the region.
The crisis intensified after thousands of Hamas militants breached Gaza’s border and infiltrated Israeli territory on October 7, launching what Hamas termed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war as it mobilized its armed forces for a broad and coordinated campaign aimed at countering the assault and rescuing hostages amid a complex battlefield dynamic.
Israel’s stated objectives in Operation Iron Sword centered on halting the initial breach, recovering more than 200 hostages including foreign nationals, and dismantling Hamas’s operational capabilities. To support these aims, Israel initiated substantial rocket strikes against targets across Gaza from day one. The National Security Council also ordered the suspension of essential services such as water, food, electricity, and fuel deliveries to Gaza in an effort to disrupt Hamas’s operational capacity and pressure leadership structures. Humanitarian aid convoys began moving toward Gaza through the Rafah crossing later in October, but organizers noted that the aid volumes were insufficient to meet urgent civilian needs and called for safe, reliable access for aid workers and residents alike.
On October 27, Israel announced an expansion of the ground operation in Gaza. Exact commencement details remained unclear, but the campaign coincided with a mass exodus of Palestinians from northern areas toward shelters and southern regions, as people sought safety amid ongoing fighting. By November 5, Israeli forces surrounded Gaza City as the ground operation intensified and surrounding supply lines were cut, leaving certain central areas still contested while fighting persisted in multiple districts.
Earlier reporting indicated potential jurisdictional shifts, including discussions about which parties would assume responsibility for different parts of the West Bank and the broader security equation. Observers noted that regional dynamics, including the roles of neighboring states and local governance bodies, would significantly influence the evolving conflict and any future political settlements. The evolving situation in the Middle East continues to attract international attention as parties assess humanitarian needs, civilian impact, and long-term implications for regional stability.