The Jerusalem Post newspaper reported statements by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who stressed that Israel must remain the controlling force in the Gaza Strip, given the lack of an entity capable of providing security in the region, he said. “In the near term, we are the only party that can guarantee our security,” Saar said.
He added that the occupation government does not plan to return Israeli settlements to Gaza.
Sa’ar expressed his optimism about the future of Israeli-American relations during President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, as he praised his previous policies, such as recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan and moving the American embassy to Jerusalem, anticipating additional steps to strengthen the alliance, including legislation that may target the International Criminal Court.
Sa’ar touched on the humanitarian challenges in the Gaza Strip, claiming that the aid that reaches the Strip “is often exploited by Hamas to enhance its military power.” He stressed the need to re-evaluate the methods of managing aid to avoid its use against Israel.
These statements come against the backdrop of the regional and international challenges facing Israel, as the new Foreign Minister focuses on strengthening alliances and rearranging priorities to ensure Israel’s security in the region and its strategic interests.