Jerusalem, Jan. 29 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday reiterated that Israel will not allow the reconstruction of Gaza until armed groups in the enclave are disarmed, while insisting that his country will retain security control over both the Gaza strip and the West Bank.
Speaking at a wide-ranging evening press conference following the return of the remains of the final Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, Netanyahu said that now, with one of its core demands fulfilled, Jerusalem will be shifting its focus to what he described as its last two objectives in the war.
"Now we are focusing on completing the two remaining missions: dismantling Hamas's weapons and demilitarising Gaza of arms and tunnels," he said.
The premier sai...