Taking Gaza 'not our goal'

Controlling Gaza City 'the best way to end the war'.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday his government had no plans to occupy Gaza, while vowing to create safe corridors for aid. "Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, but to establish a civilian administration in the Strip that is not affiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister said at a press conference.

"We will designate safe corridors for the passage and distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip," he said ahead of an operation to seize Gaza City.

The new plan for Gaza City recently approved by the country's security Cabinet provided "the best way to end the war".

"This is the best way to end the war and the best way to end it speedily," said the prime minister.

The operation set to be launched by the military in Gaza will be on a "fairly short timetable".