TEL AVIV, February 17. /TASS/. Israel will not agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state as it would endanger its own existence, Defense Minister Israel Katz said at a meeting with an American delegation.

"Israel will never agree to the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger its (Israel's - TASS) existence. Israel's priorities are clear: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, the release of all hostages, the elimination of Hamas in Gaza, and then an agreement [on normalization] with Saudi Arabia," Katz said. The top defense official added that "[US President Donald] Trump's [Gaza] plan is the only one that can guarantee the security of Israel's residents after the events of October 7 [2023]."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that Palestinians living in Gaza should be allowed to leave the enclave voluntarily if they choose to do so.