Israeli Army Radio has quoted war cabinet minister Gadi Eisenkot as saying that it will take “three to five years for a significant stabilisation” in the Gaza Strip, and then “many more” to form a new government there, Al Jazeera reports.

“Whoever says that we will disband a few battalions in Rafah and then return the abductees is sowing a false illusion — this is a much more complex event,” Eisenkot was quoted as saying.