His plan to occupy the entire Gaza Strip is met with disapproval by everyone; the hostages' families are protesting, and even the army is opposed. But Benjamin Netanyahu is pressing ahead, and in an interview with Fox News, broadcast shortly before the Security Council meeting convened to discuss the plan, he confirms his intention to occupy the Strip .
"We want to take control of the entire territory, but not permanently . We want to have a security perimeter without governing it. The goal is to then hand the Strip over to Arab forces who will govern it appropriately and not threaten us."
The details of Israel's strategy in the Palestinian enclave will be finalized at the Security Council meeting.
In another interview with the Indian English-language media outlet CNN-News18, he reiterated that Israel "will not annex Gaza," but plans to transfer control of it to an unspecified "transitional governing body."
During the Security Cabinet meeting on the plan to occupy Gaza, the Chief of Staff warned the Prime Minister of the risks, "especially without a clear decision on what comes next, warning that the situation risks becoming more complicated." Eyal Zamir reportedly told his aides in recent days that "the conquest of the Strip will drag Israel into a black hole." The generals' plan is different and calls for the encirclement of Gaza City and the central camps to isolate the territory and contain the fighting. Then: massive fire, targeted troop movements, and avoiding traps.
The families of the hostages are also protesting , calling for a halt to what they call a "catastrophic decision" and for a comprehensive agreement to end the war and allow their loved ones to return home. "Those we love are in immediate danger: some risk their lives, others risk disappearing forever in the land of Gaza. The State of Israel is also in danger: we risk losing our moral values and our responsibility to one another. Join us before it's too late," they declared.
(Unioneonline/L)