Israel’s Netanyahu admits to disagreement with Biden on ‘post-Hamas’ Gaza

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Tuesday that there is a disagreement with US President Joe Biden regarding the “post-Hamas” Gaza strip.

“Yes, there is a disagreement when it comes to ‘the day after Hamas,’ and I hope we will come to an agreement here too,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“I want to clarify my position: I will not allow Israel to repeat the mistake of Oslo,” he added, in reference to the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians in the 1990s.

“Gaza will not be Hamas-stan nor Fatah-stan,” the Israeli premier said, referring to the two major Palestinian groups.

On Monday, Biden said he largely disagrees with Netanyahu on the post-war period in Gaza.

Netanyahu opposes US efforts to allow the Palestinian Authority to govern the Gaza Strip following the end of the ongoing Israeli war on the blockaded territory. Washington, for its part, argues that there must be a Palestinian authority or government in Gaza in the post-war period.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,412 Palestinians have been killed and 50,100 others injured in the Israeli onslaught since then, according to Gaza’s health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio