Tel Aviv, Aug. 8 -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday defended his government's vexed proposal of taking control of the Gaza strip, following the approval of Israel's Security Cabinet to establish a "civil administration" in the Gaza Strip.

In a post on X, Netanyahu clarified that the aim of the proposals was not to occupy the Gaza territory but to eliminate Hamas and establish a peaceful alternative administration.

"We are not going to occupy Gaza - we are going to free Gaza from Hamas," Netanyahu said, amid the growing international scrutiny of Israel's military intentions in the region.

Earlier today, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved Prime Minister Netanyahu's proposal for the establishment of a "civil administration"...