Sa'ar: Israel must remain the controlling power in Gaza

The Jerusalem Post quoted Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar as saying that Israel must remain the dominant power in the Gaza Strip, given that there is no entity capable of providing security in the area. "In the short term, we are the only entity that can guarantee our security," Sa'ar said.

He added that the occupation government does not plan to return Israeli settlements to Gaza.

Sa'ar expressed optimism about the future of Israeli-American relations during President-elect Donald Trump's second term, praising his past policies such as recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, and anticipating additional steps to strengthen the alliance, including legislation that could target the International Criminal Court.

Sa'ar touched on the humanitarian challenges in the Gaza Strip, claiming that aid reaching the Strip "is often exploited by Hamas to strengthen its military power." He stressed the need to re-evaluate the methods of managing aid to avoid its use against Israel.

These statements come against the backdrop of regional and international challenges facing Israel, as the new foreign minister focuses on strengthening alliances and re-prioritizing to ensure Israel's security in the region and its strategic interests.