Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed claims that Israel is breaking international law as "hogwash."

In an interview with NBC News's Meet the Press, host Kristen Welker told Netanyahu of comments from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights accusing Israel of carrying out collective punishment of Palestinians, which amounts to a war crime. Netanyahu called the assessment "hogwash," and said that the Israel Defense Forces were taking every possible measure to avoid civilian casualties.

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"Yes, I can say that what the commission has said is hogwash, because we're — the main difference is — are you deliberately targeting civilians? No, we're deliberately doing everything in our power to target the terrorists," Netanyahu said. "And the civilians, as happens in every legitimate war, are sometimes what are called ‘collateral damage.’ That's a longer way of saying unintended casualties."

The Israeli prime minister said that Hamas' strategy was to put civilians in danger, resulting in unintended casualties from Israel, which would then erode global support for Israel.

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"Because they want this ridiculous and wanton attack on Israel, this — and Israel's legitimacy to take root," he continued. "And unfortunately, people are giving into this. If we lose sight, you know, if we lose the moral clarity of supporting the force that is fighting the terrorists that are hiding behind civilians, and blaming the victim for these attacks, the victim who takes the just action to defend itself, then we'll never be able to fight the terrorists. They'll always hide behind civilians — and we’ll never be able to fight them."

Netanyahu also touched on the topic of governing the Gaza Strip after the war, saying that Israel would most likely accept an international peacekeeping force, but that ultimate military control of Gaza must lie with Israel, and that the focus of civilian administration must be the "demilitarization" and "deradicalization" of the area.