Prime Minister Netanyahu argued that an independent Palestinian state would be a threat to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that a fully independent Palestinian state would be used by armed groups to undermine security, thus rejecting the two-state solution as the war in Gaza enters its 21st month.
During a dinner with U.S. President Donald Trump on July 7, a reporter asked Trump whether an independent Palestinian state was possible. "I don't know," Trump replied, and turned the question to the Israeli leader.
"I think the Palestinians should have all the power to govern themselves, but no power to threaten us. That means that ultimate power, such as overall security, will always remain in our hands," Netanyahu said.
He then argued that Hamas used its control of Gaza to carry out the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. "Therefore, people will not be able to say, 'Let's give them another state.' That would be a platform for the destruction of Israel," Netanyahu said.
"We will build peace with our Palestinian neighbors who do not want to destroy us, and we will build a peace in which our security, the supreme authority over security, remains in our hands," the Prime Minister added.
"Now people will say, 'That wasn't a complete state, that wasn't a state, it wasn't this or that.' We don't care. We swore never to repeat it. Never again, not now."
Although the United Nations and the United States have supported a two-state solution for decades, some Israeli politicians and Republicans in Washington are increasingly portraying it as impractical.
Last month, according to Reuters, the US State Department warned other countries against recognizing the Palestinian state. However, according to Al Jazeera, Palestine has been recognized as a sovereign state by more than 140 countries, accounting for approximately 75% of UN members as of November 2024.
Israel has resumed its campaign against Hamas in Gaza after a two-month ceasefire collapsed in March when the parties failed to reach a deeper agreement. Netanyahu said the campaign would continue until all remaining hostages are freed and the armed groups are eliminated.
A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that he was "horrified by the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza," which has been exacerbated by a lack of access to food and other aid. According to local authorities in the territory, at least 57,523 Palestinians have died there since October 2023.
