Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told American media that Israel does not intend to is building settlements for Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip after the end of the war, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"The resettlement of Gaza has never been on the agenda," the prime minister said in an interview with CNN yesterday. "Some of my constituents are not happy about it, but that is my opinion."
Several ministers from the right-wing nationalist parties in Netanyahu's ruling coalition have repeatedly declared themselves in favor of repopulating the Gaza Strip with Jewish settlers. Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said yesterday that he himself would happily live there.
As soon as the radical Palestinian organization "Hamas" to be defeated, a permanent demilitarization of the Gaza Strip must be achieved, Netanyahu told CNN, adding that "the only power that can stop the resurgence of terrorism in the foreseeable future is Israel.
"At the same time, we want - I want - a civilian administration to be led by Gazans who are not tied to 'Hamas', nor wish for our destruction."
On Saturday, Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's wartime cabinet, said he and representatives of his center-right National Unity Party would quit Netanyahu's government if the prime minister did not present a plan for the post-war Gaza settlement by June 8.