(CNN)– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the “intensive phase of the serious war with Hamas (in Gaza) is coming to an end” and that the military’s focus may shift to Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
Netanyahu, in his first private interview with local Israeli media since October 7, said: “This means the war will end, but the war will end at its current stage, and we will continue to mow the grass later.”
Netanyahu added that he was ready to conclude a “partial agreement” with Hamas to return some hostages, while reiterating his position that the war would continue after the cease-fire to “achieve the goal of destroying” Hamas. “I’m not ready to let it go,” he said.
After the intensive phase is over, there will be a possibility to move some forces north, we will do that,” he pointed out.
“Firstly, for security purposes, and secondly, we have to bring our residents back to their homes,” Netanyahu said, adding, “If we can do it politically, we will do it the other way. We will take everyone to their homes – all the residents, north and south.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 18 defended his decision to publicly comment on US arms sales.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Islamist movement that is one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East, has been carrying out deadly attacks from southern Lebanon targeting areas in northern Israel since October 8, a day after Hamas attacks on Israel.
Israel responded to Hezbollah’s attacks, which killed Hezbollah fighters, including senior commanders.
Tens of thousands of Israelis have been driven from their homes by the ongoing conflict in northern Israel.
Netanyahu was also asked in the interview whether his solution to ending the conflict with Hezbollah was a deal or a war.
To which the prime minister replied, “Look, if there is a deal, it will be a deal on our terms, get out of Gaza, leave Hamas alone to get rid of them.”
Israel launched its war on Gaza following Hamas attacks on October 7, in which militants killed around 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostage. Since then, the Israeli campaign has killed more than 37,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
