Netanyahu Blocks Return of Palestinian Authority to Gaza and Accuses Them of Denying Festival Massacre

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out the possibility of a return of the Palestinian Authority to power in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip following the conflict. He made this clear in response to American President Joe Biden’s call for reunification of the two territories under a “revitalized Palestinian Authority.” Netanyahu disagreed with this proposal, stating that the current form of the Palestinian Authority is not capable of taking responsibility for Gaza after the war.

Netanyahu went even further by accusing Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, of denying the massacre at the “Tribe of Nova” Festival and refusing to condemn Hamas’ 44-day massacre. This led Netanyahu to declare that Israel will not allow Gaza’s civilian administration to deny terrorism, support terrorism, pay for terrorism, or educate children for terrorism.

Furthermore, Netanyahu referred to a statement from the Palestinian Authority claiming that an Israeli armed forces helicopter caused collateral casualties while trying to eliminate Hamas terrorists who were attacking the festival. Despite Biden’s plea for reunification and revitalization of the Palestinian Authority, Netanyahu has made his stance very clear.