Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must be feeling the heat on the displacement question. In the run-up to today’s hearing in the International Court of Justice on South Africa’s suit charging Israel with genocide, Netanyahu went on Israeli TV last night to deny that his government has any plan to displace the Palestinians from Gaza. “I want to make a few points absolutely clear,” Netanyahu said, reported the Times of Israel. “Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population. Israel is fighting Hamas terrorists, not the Palestinian population, and we are doing so in full compliance with international law.
“Our goal is to rid Gaza of Hamas terrorists and free our hostages. Once this is achieved, Gaza can be demilitarized and deradicalized, thereby creating a possibility for a better future for Israel and Palestinians alike,” he proclaimed.
