In an exchange leaked from the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu told National Missions Minister Orit Strock that he “did not know” until when a ceasefire in Gaza would hold.
(photo credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)
Israel cannot quantify the amount of time needed to establish an international security force in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet on Sunday.
In an exchange leaked from the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu told National Missions Minister Orit Strock that he “did not know” until when a ceasefire in Gaza would hold, stating that Israel “is working to conclude Phase A,” adding that three deceased hostages have yet to be returned for burial by Hamas as part of the agreement.
“We did not go to war only to free hostages,” Strock told the prime minister, who responded by saying Israel had given its approval to establish the international security force for the purposes of demilitarizing the Gaza Strip.
“It is important to be aware that the Strip is being demilitarized, and disarmament is being carried out, including in tunnels,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying. “For this reason, we gave our approval to establish an international force.”
International forces ‘reluctant’ to enter Gaza, Netanyahu says
According to the prime minister, international forces are “reluctant” to enter the Gaza Strip. “We must not skip this step. Hamas is in apparent agreement.”
In response, Strock asked the prime minister how long he would expect this process to be carried out, to which he replied: “We cannot ingore our managing of a seven-front war…the amount of time left cannot be quantified.”
Later in the meeting, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich argued that a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre could not be held if Israel plans to re-enter war in two months’ time. “If you’re going back to fighting in Gaza in two months, how will you establish a state probe?” Smotrich was quoted as asking Netanyahu.
Later on Sunday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum hit out at Strock’s comment that Israel “did not go to war only to return the hostages,” saying that Strock revealed a “painful truth” in her statement.
“The minister must be reminded that the return of hostages was and still is a stated war goal – both on an ethical level, as well as on a public level. A people that does not return its children has no right to exist.
“Ran Gavili died on the battlefield after bravely fighting and saving dozens, if not hundreds, of civilians. Dror Or was murdered with his wife in Be’eri and kidnapped to Gaza with two of his children, who were orphaned. Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai citizen, was kidnapped while visiting friends in Be’eri,” a forum statement read.
The forum stated that it would not rest until all hostages are home, adding that “we will not give anyone up and we will not leave them behind.”
As reported by The Jerusalem Post