Israel has categorically rejected the idea of the recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that it will be a “massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism” that will prevent any prospects of a long-lasting peace in the future.
Speaking on Sunday at the Conference of Presidents of the Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, Netanyahu reaffirmed his objective of a total victory and referred to the conflict in Gaza as the battle of civilizations against barbarism.
Emphasizing that the primary objectives of the conflict are to destroy Hamas, liberate the captives, and stop Gaza from ever "posing a threat" to Israel, Netanyahu stressed that "this is the battle that is crucial for Israel's future and our survival, but it's also critical to the future of civilization."
He reassured to destroy Hamas, promising to finish the job as the United States finished their job by eliminating the terrorist organization, the Islamic State (ISIS). He admitted that the civilian population in Gaza must be kept out of harm’s way.
Furthermore, he admitted that one thing that the state of Israel cannot accept is the two-state solution and since the war began, the international community has repeatedly called for that.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry sources, around 29,000 Palestinian citizens have died so far in this regional conflict, which was started when the Hamas fighters invaded Israel on October 7. More than 85% of the Gaza population has gone through several home displacements.
Currently, an estimated 1.4 million of those people are taking shelter in Rafah, which according to Israeli sources, is the next place for a possible ground invasion.
