Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel would maintain strong security control over the West Bank and Gaza Strip regardless of how the Palestinian-Israeli conflict evolves. The remarks appeared on the prime minister’s official YouTube channel.
He emphasized that, whether or not a permanent peace arrangement is reached, Israel would retain full security oversight of all territory west of the Jordan River.
During the briefing, the prime minister singled out Jordan’s West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, and the Gaza Strip as key areas of focus for Israel’s security posture in the region.
The conflict in the Middle East intensified on October 7 when thousands of Hamas supporters breached Israeli lines from the Gaza Strip. In response, Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war and prepared to confront the challenge.
Israel’s stated objective was to repel the attack, secure the release of more than 200 hostages, including foreign nationals, and defeat Hamas. To pursue these aims, Israel launched extensive rocket strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip on the first day of the operation. Concurrently, the National Security Council approved a measure to cut off essential supplies such as water, food, electricity, and fuel to the enclave.
On October 27, Israeli officials announced an expansion of the ground operation in Gaza. By November 5, IDF forces had surrounded the Gaza City and severed its access to food supplies. On December 5, the third phase of the ground operation began, with Israeli forces advancing into the Khan Younis area in the southern portion of the strip.
Earlier statements from Netanyahu indicated a preference for limiting international involvement in facilitating a demilitarized Gaza, signaling a stance that emphasized national security and regional stability as guiding principles in the conflict’s management. This approach has shaped ongoing discussions about the scope of external coordination and the future governance of Gaza and adjacent territories. [Attribution: multiple outlets providing ongoing coverage and official statements.]