Gaza: Netanyahu publicly rejects a Palestinian state and reaffirms his desire to continue the war

The Israeli prime minister warned Washington his opposition to a Palestinian statea solution supported by the United States and rejected by American requests to reduce the scope of the Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip, statements that provoked immediate recrimination from the White House.

On the contrary, Netanyahu reaffirmed his desire to continue the war against Hamas, launched after the Palestinian terrorist group’s brutal attack on Israel on October 7.

At a press conference, a provocateur Netanyahu he promised to continue the offensive in Gaza “Until complete victory“: the destruction of Hamas and the return of Israeli hostages, adding that this could lead “many more months.”

With nearly 25,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, and 85% of the Strip’s population displaced, Israel is under intense pressure to slow its offensive and engage in meaningful talks on a sustainable end to the war .

Israel’s allies, including the United States – and many of its enemies – have urged revive the latent “two-state solution”, in which a future Palestinian state would sit alongside an Israeli one, something Netanyahu has staunchly opposed.

The tense exchange with the United States highlighted what happened a wide gap between two allies about the scope of Israel’s war and its plans for the future of the besieged Palestinian territory.

“Obviously we look at this in different ways,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said.

Netanyahu’s statements came just a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted it Israel will never have “true security” without a path to Palestinian independence. Even the White House said a few days ago that it was the “right time” for Israel reduce the intensity of its devastating military campaign in Gaza.

In his nationally televised speech, Netanyahu was defiant, stating as much repeatedly Israel would not end its offensive until you reach your goals.

He rejected accusations from a growing number of Israeli critics who support this These goals are not achievable and promised to continue the offensive: “We will not settle for anything less than an absolute victory,” Netanyahu said.

Israel unleashed its offensive after Hamas carried out the cross-border attack on October 7, leaving 1,200 dead and capturing around 250 people, some of whom are believed to be 130 remain in the hands of Palestinian fighters. The war fueled tensionss throughout the region and risks giving rise to other conflicts.

The Israeli offensive one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in modern history, has caused the deaths of nearly 25,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Furthermore, it has caused widespread destruction and forced more than 80% of the territory’s 2.3 million inhabitants to abandon their homes.

The alarming cost of the war has led to a growing number of calls from the international community to end the offensive. After giving Israel strong support in the early days of the conflict, the United States – its closest ally – began to express its doubts and urged Netanyahu to do so. detail your vision of the situation in Gaza once the war is over.

Washington said it should “revitalize” the Palestinian Authority, which has international recognition and governs the semi-autonomous areas of the West Bank – Palestinian territory occupied by Israel – to return to Gaza. Hamas overthrew the Palestinian Authority in Gaza in 2007.

The Palestinians want Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be part of their state. These areas were occupied by Israel in 1967.

In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Blinken said that the two-state solutionIt was the best way to protect Israelunite the moderate Arab countries and isolate Iran, Israel’s bitter enemy.

Without a “path to a Palestinian state,” he declared, Israel would have “no real security.”

At the same conference, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said the kingdom is willing to establish full relations with Israel as part of a broader political agreement. «But only that it can happen through peace for the Palestiniansthrough a Palestinian state,” he underlined.

Netanyahu, who leads a far-right government who opposes a Palestinian state, reiterated his rejection of the two-state solution because he believes that a Palestinian state It would become a launching pad for attacks against Israel.

He added that Israel “must have control over the security of all territory west of the Jordan River.” “This is contrary to the idea of ​​sovereignty. What can we do?”

“To our American friends I tell you this truth, and I put an end to their attempts to coerce us towards a reality that endangers the State of Israel,” he indicated.

The reaction of the White House

The comments drew an immediate reaction from the White House. Kirby said the president Joe Biden “won’t stop working” toward a two-state solution.

Before October 7, Israeli society was deeply divided over Netanyahu’s plan to implement judicial reform. After the attack, the country rallied in support of the war. But the divisions they resurfaced on the prime minister’s handling of the conflict.

Relatives of the hostages and their large number of supporters They called for a new ceasefire which allows him to return home. Last November, Hamas freed more than 100 hostages by exchanging them for Palestinian prisoners as part of a week-long truce.

Dozens of people gathered in Tel Aviv to express their solidarity with the relatives of Kfir Bibas, the youngest Israeli hostage who celebrated his first birthday in captivity. The red-haired boy and his 4-year-old brother, Ariel, were captured along with his mother Shiri and father Yarden. All four remain in the hands of Hamas.

Some have begun to question whether Netanyahu’s goals are realistic, especially given the data the slowness of the offensive and the growing international criticism, which include charges of genocide before the International Court of Justice. Israel angrily denies the charges.

Netanyahu’s opponents accuse him of postponing any discussion of post-war scenarios until the future avoid looming accusations of government failures, keep his coalition intact and postpone the elections. Polls show that the popularity of Netanyahu, who is facing trial on corruption charges, has plummeted during the war.

Voices are also increasing They are calling for general elections soon and the number of Israelis convinced that this war cannot be won is growing as long as Netanyahu remains in power.

On the front line, Hamas said at least 93 people were killed Thursday morning in fresh Israeli shelling in the southern Gaza Strip.

At least “93 people were killed in attacks last night and this morning, including 16 in the bombing of a family home in Rafah”, on the border with Egypt, said Hamas, which has been in power in Gaza since 2007.