Netanyahu Refuses to Allow Palestinian Authority’s Return to Gaza, Cites Massacre Denial Allegations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to power in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip after the war, according to several Israeli media.

While American President Joe Biden pleaded on Saturday for a reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under the governance of a “revitalized Palestinian Authority,” Netanyahu quickly showed his disagreement. The Palestinian Authority, in its current form, is not able to take responsibility for Gaza. After we fought and did all this (in Gaza Strip), how could we give it to them? he said according to the Jerusalem Post.

Netanyahu went even further on Sunday, accusing Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Hebrew state, of “denying” a massacre at a Jewish festival in 2015 known as Tribe of Nova. He also accused Abbas of denying an Israeli armed forces helicopter caused collateral casualties while trying to eliminate Hamas terrorists who were attacking the festival. This statement was not verified by Parisian news sources.

“In the aftermath of eliminating Hamas, we will not allow anyone who runs civilian administration in Gaza to deny terrorism, support terrorism, pay for terrorism and educate their children for destruction of State Israel,” Netanyahu declared during his address.