Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday rejected a request from the United States and said he has no intention of scaling back Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip.
He also stated that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state after the end of the Israel-Hamas war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated in a nationally televised news conference that Israel will not stop its attacks until it destroys Hamas and ends the terror group's hold on Gaza. He also said that the most important thing was to bring back the remaining 130 hostages.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Netanyahu dismissed critics who say these goals are unattainable, saying the war could last several more months and that Israel “will not settle for anything less than absolute victory.” said.
Netanyahu's comments came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel cannot have “true security” without a path to Palestinian independence.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he has no intention of scaling back Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip. (Abil Sultan/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Earlier this week, the White House called on Israel to scale back ground operations, saying it was an “appropriate time” to reduce the intensity of the war. Other countries have called for a ceasefire or cessation of physical fighting in lieu of diplomatic discussions.
Netanyahu's comments drew criticism from the White House, with national security spokesman John Kirby saying he “clearly takes a different view.”
The United States also called for steps toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.
As war reaches 100 days, White House urges Israel to scale back ground operations in Gaza: 'Now is the right time'
Blinken said Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that a two-state solution is the best way to protect Israel and achieve stability in the Middle East.
The clash reflects a rift between Israel and the United States over the Israel-Hamas war.
Smoke rises after Israeli military shelling in the Gaza Strip, seen from southern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. The military is fighting Palestinian militants across Gaza in a war that began with Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israel formally declares war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the terrorist group led an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages. did.
The United States has defended Israel's attack as self-defense, but both Israel and the United States are facing pressure to halt the operation after tens of thousands of civilians have been killed.
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Israeli tanks move near the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel on Thursday, January 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
The devastating military operation has killed around 25,000 Palestinians and forced more than 80% of the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million residents from their homes, according to Gaza health authorities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
