Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country does not seek to conquer, occupy or govern Gaza after its offensive against Hamas but a “credible force” would be needed to enter the Palestinian enclave if necessary to prevent the emergence of threats, Reuters reports.

Speaking to US television’s Fox News on Thursday, Netanyahu said: “We don’t seek to conquer Gaza, we don’t seek to occupy Gaza, and we don’t seek to govern Gaza.”

Netanyahu said a civilian government would need to take shape in Gaza but that Israel would make sure an attack like Oct. 7 does not happen again.

“So, we have to have credible force that, if necessary, will enter Gaza and kill the killers. Because that’s what will prevent the reemergence of a Hamas-like entity,” Netanyahu said. He said that after the crisis, “what we have to see is Gaza demilitarised, deradicalised and rebuilt.”