Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would be opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state once the war in Gaza is over.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister vowed to continue to offensive in Gaza until Hamas was was destroyed. Combined with the release of Israeli hostages, he said this would mark a “complete victory”.
Since October 7 – when Hamas launched a surprise attack – the Gaza health ministry claims 25,000 Palestinians have been killed with 85% displaced from their homes. The war has prompted new calls for a two-state solution – something the US has said it would support.
The hope would be a two-state solution could offer a diplomatic end to the war, reports the BBC. But Netanyahu says Israel would want to control all of the land west of the River Jordan – which includes the possible Palestinian state.
Speaking at a news conference, he said: “This is a necessary condition, and it conflicts with the idea of (Palestinian) sovereignty. What to do? I tell this truth to our American friends, and I also stopped the attempt to impose a reality on us that would harm Israel’s security.”
Netanyahu has spent a large part of his political career opposing a two-state solution. Just last month he boasted that he had stopped a Palestinian state being established.
The US has traditionally been an ally of Israel. However, the public opposition to Washington’s stance is a move away from those in the West.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has however said Washington will not stop pushing for a two-state solution. He said there would be “no reoccupation of Gaza.”
Netanyahu’s comments will however please his support in Israel. It will also move to appease his far-right ministers.
A recent poll in Israel found the people would prefer to see hostages returned than the destruction of Hamas.
