Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
International

Israel doesn’t want to rule Gaza after war, says Netanyahu’s advisor

Darpan News Desk IANS, 21 Nov, 2023 12:53 PM
  • Israel doesn’t want to rule Gaza after war, says Netanyahu’s advisor

New Delhi, Nov 21 (IANS) Israel is not looking to occupy Gaza after its ongoing war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas ends, an Israeli government official said on Tuesday.

“We don’t want to occupy Gaza. We don’t want to rule over Gaza,” Mark Regev, a senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told an online media briefing on the war.

“We insist, however, that Gaza must be demilitarised.”

The war started after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people in massacres across towns and villages in the country’s south, and firing rockets into Israel.

More than 12,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes and the siege of the coastal enclave, according to the media in the Middle East, citing the Hamas-run health ministry.

Regev said a Palestinian government could be formed in the future after Hamas is removed from the enclave.

“Hamas has brought bloodshed and impoverishment to the people of Gaza.”

Israel’s international partners will want to rebuild Gaza, Regev said, adding that Arab countries will be part of the rebuilding process.

“Hamas has no friends in the Arab world other than Qatar,” he said of the country where Hamas’ leadership reportedly lives.

Israel’s victory would be a win for those seeking peace in the region, Regev added.

Even as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intensify their operations in Gaza after 46 days of the war, the Israeli government has not stated clearly its plan for the enclave once the fighting stops.

While the IDF pursues its goal of destroying Hamas infrastructure in Gaza, as it describes the military operations, Israel is engaged in negotiations to free some 238 hostages, including children and the elderly, from Hamas captivity.

And, if the backroom talks, which also involve Qatar and the United States, lead to an agreement on the release of hostages, then Israel would likely agree to a short pause.

“We will agree to a temporary ceasefire if our hostages are released,” Regev said.

He said international humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross were not allowed by Hamas to visit the hostages to assess their wellbeing.

When asked if Israel has proof of life of the hostages, Regev said that “no information on their condition” is available but that Israel has gathered its own intelligence.

The hostages should be released unconditionally, he said.

So far, there is no indication that Israel would consider any deal whereby the hostages are swapped for Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported earlier that the families of some of the hostages have urged Netanyahu to agree to such an exchange.

MORE International ARTICLES

Cap reached for H-2B visas for second half of FY 2023

Cap reached for H-2B visas for second half of FY 2023
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said February 27 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date on or after April 1 and before October 1.

Cap reached for H-2B visas for second half of FY 2023

Majority of voters not keen on Indian-origin Harris as president: Poll

Majority of voters not keen on Indian-origin Harris as president: Poll
Between February 14 and 20, a poll conducted by the Berkeley Institute of Government Studies and The Los Angeles Times asked 7,512 registered voters about Harris running for President if Biden decided not to seek a second term. It found that 59 per cent of registered voters were hesitant about Harris seeking the country's highest office.

Majority of voters not keen on Indian-origin Harris as president: Poll

FTX fraud: Indian-origin Nishad Singh pleads guilty to criminal charges

FTX fraud: Indian-origin Nishad Singh pleads guilty to criminal charges
Singh pleaded guilty to six conspiracy charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate federal campaign finance laws. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Singh for his role in a multi-year scheme to defraud equity investors in FTX.

FTX fraud: Indian-origin Nishad Singh pleads guilty to criminal charges

Indian Microsoft employee's wife found dead in US: Report

Indian Microsoft employee's wife found dead in US: Report
She moved to the US after graduating from India. Her husband, Mudambi S. Srivatsa, said she had big dreams, and wanted to give her family the best things possible. A fundraiser has been set up to manage the cost of services to transport her body to Mysuru for her last rites.

Indian Microsoft employee's wife found dead in US: Report

Australia extradites Indian man over 2018 beach murder

Australia extradites Indian man over 2018 beach murder
The BBC report said that the 38-year-old accused will first have to appear in court in the state of Victoria, before being moved to Queensland where the crime took place. He will then face a magistrate in Brisbane, probably later this week, before being remanded in custody.

Australia extradites Indian man over 2018 beach murder

Aussie-Indian man pleads guilty to unruly behaviour on Air Canada flight

Aussie-Indian man pleads guilty to unruly behaviour on Air Canada flight
The Air Canada crew found one litre bottle of Bacardi and a water bottle containing a liquid smelling strongly of alcohol with Patel. The crew confiscated the bottles as according to the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority, airline passengers can only consume alcohol provided by cabin crew during a flight.

Aussie-Indian man pleads guilty to unruly behaviour on Air Canada flight