Netanyahu lays out 'three prerequisites for peace' in op-ed

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented what he called the "three prerequisites for peace" between Israel and Gaza, writing: "Hamas must be destroyed, Gaza must be demilitarized, and Palestinian society must be deradicalized."

While critics have pushed Israel have proportionality in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and kidnappings of approximately 240 others, Netanyahu described in a Wall Street Journal op-ed Monday what he considers to be proportional as the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry – which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths – says more than 20,000 people have died since Oct. 7.

Because Hamas leaders have vowed to repeat the Oct. 7 attack, destroying Hamas is "the only proportional response to prevent the repeat of such horrific atrocities," Netanyahu wrote. "Anything less guarantees more war and more bloodshed."

Israel will continue fully following international law, he also said.

While destroying Hamas comes first, the demilitarization of Gaza comes second, Netanyahu said. This would require a temporary security zone to be established along the perimeter of Gaza and for imports into Gaza to be inspected to prevent weapons from being smuggled in, he wrote. 

While U.S. President Joe Biden has pushed for the Palestinian Authority, which governs areas of the West Bank, to assume control over Gaza after the war, Netanyahu wrote that the expectation the authority "will demilitarize Gaza is a pipe dream," as has failed to do so for years in the territory under its control. 

Finally, the deradicalization of Gaza is necessary to stop Palestinian civilians from supporting terrorism, Netanyahu said. "Schools must teach children to cherish life rather than death, and imams must cease to preach for the murder of Jews."

Netanyahu said deradicalization successfully occurred in Germany and Japan after World War II and within Arab countries after the 9/11 attacks.

Completing these three things would allow for the rebuilding of Gaza and a more stable Middle East, he said. 

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