The statement came at a press conference in Jerusalem with the coordinator for hostage affairs, Gal Hirsch, and was delivered the day after the last remains of the hostages were handed over to Israel.
Netanyahu said Israel will retain responsibility for security in the region “from the Jordan to the sea,” including the occupied territories.
The parties in the Gaza war are far apart ahead of negotiations on phase two of the peace plan. One issue concerns the demand that Hamas, which is labeled a terrorist group, be completely disarmed. At the press conference, Netanyahu emphasized that Hamas must lay down its weapons and Gaza must be “demilitarized.”
