In an exclusive interview with TIME magazine, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his country's military strategy in Gaza while acknowledging past mistakes in dealing with Hamas. The conversation, which took place in Netanyahu's Jerusalem office, covered a range of topics, including the ongoing conflict, Israel's international standing, and plans for Gaza's future.
Netanyahu, who has been criticized for Israel's vulnerability to Hamas' October 7 attack, expressed sorrow over the attack. "Of course, of course. I am sorry, deeply, that something like this happened," he told TIME. "And you always look back, and you say, could we have done things that would have prevented it?"
The Prime Minister, who has led Israel for a cumulative 17 years, built his political career on the promise of ensuring Israel's security. However, the October 7 attack, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and hundreds of abductions, has forced a reckoning over his strategic decisions.
Netanyahu's stance on ceasefire negotiations has been a source of tension with the Biden administration. The Israeli leader has been reluctant to agree to a complete halt in military operations, preferring only brief pauses in exchange for the release of hostages. This position is seen by some as a political calculation, aimed at maintaining the support of his right-wing coalition partners. A prolonged ceasefire could potentially destabilize Netanyahu's fragile government. A senior Israeli official offered a critical assessment of the situation: "He's risking his government in having a deal with Hamas. Bibi will have a hostage deal only when it suits him politically."
Netanyahu defended his past policy of allowing Qatari funds into Gaza, saying it was intended to prevent a humanitarian disaster. "We wanted to make sure that Gaza has a functioning civilian administration to avoid humanitarian collapse," he explained. He insisted that the main issue was "the transfer of weapons and ammunition from the Sinai into Gaza," rather than the financial support.
Addressing the ongoing conflict, Netanyahu rejected calls to wind down the war, stating that Israel's objective is "to completely destroy Hamas' military and governing capabilities." He dismissed allegations of collective punishment, saying, "We've gone out of our way to enable humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the war." The Israeli leader also addressed concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza. According to Netanyahu, the IDF's "best estimate" is that the ratio of civilian deaths to military is 1 to 1, which he claims is "extraordinarily low for urban combat."
Looking to the future, Netanyahu outlined a vague plan for postwar Gaza. After Hamas is destroyed, he says, he wants Arab countries to make a civilian Palestinian governing entity that wouldn't threaten Israel. "I'd like to see a civilian administration run by Gazans, perhaps with the support of regional partners" and "demilitarization by Israel." However, critics, including former Mossad chief Efraim Halevy, argue that Netanyahu lacks a concrete plan. "He doesn't have any plan for the endgame," Halevy told TIME. Rashid Khalidi, a Columbia University professor, warned, "Not unless there's some kind of Palestinian buy-in, and there will not be a buy-in to something that's not Palestinian run. Something that's run by the Emirates or any other alternative is not going to fly."
Regarding the future of Palestinian governance, Netanyahu stated, "I agree we should maintain a Jewish majority, but I think we should do it in democratic means. That's why I don't want to incorporate the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria as citizens of Israel." He added, "They should run their own lives. They should vote for their own institutions. They should have their own self-governance. But they should not have the power to threaten us."
Netanyahu also addressed the growing partisan divide in the United States regarding support for Israel. He attributed this shift to internal American issues rather than Israeli actions, citing a Harvard-Harris survey that found 80% of respondents supported Israel while 20% supported Hamas, a US-recognized terrorist organization. "There's a problem that America has," Netanyahu said. "It's not a problem that Israel has."
Despite calls for his resignation from 72% of Israelis, according to a recent poll, Netanyahu remains defiant. "I will stay in office as long as I believe I can help lead Israel to a future of security, enduring security and prosperity," he stated. "I'd rather have bad press than a good obituary." Netanyahu insists that winning the war is crucial for the survival of Zionism. "It will, if we win," he said. "And if we don't, our future will be in great jeopardy."
