Netanyahu Digs In: "No Palestinian State in Gaza," Vows Security Control From the River to the Sea, and Warns Iran of Unprecedented Retaliation

In a defiant press conference, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that he would never allow the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza, asserting that Israel must maintain full security control "from the Jordan River to the Sea." Netanyahu took credit for consistently blocking Palestinian statehood in the past, stating that his current focus is ensuring a "demilitarized Gaza" free of weapons and tunnels after the defeat of Hamas.

Addressing regional threats, Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Tehran, stating that any "fatal mistake" of attacking Israel would be met with "strength like Iran has never seen before." His comments coincide with the arrival of U.S. carrier groups in the Middle East. Domestically, Netanyahu dismissed calls for early elections as a "mistake" during this critical period, urging his coalition to pass the national budget by March 31 to avoid a government collapse.