(NewsNation) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday again denied claims he wants to take over the Gaza Strip to occupy it.

"We are not going to occupy Gaza — we are going to free Gaza from Hamas," Netanyahu said in a post on X, hours after Israel confirmed its plans to intensify the war by attempting to completely overtake Gaza City.

He said his plans for the region — if he were to take it fully — would include demilitarizing the area and establishing a "peaceful civilian administration" that is not run by Hamas or Palestinian officials.

"This will help free our hostages and ensure Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future," Netanyahu wrote.

His post echoes sentiments he shared during a Fox News interview on Thursday, when he said a takeover of Gaza's (formerly

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