Israel needs to create an "independent weapons industry" that can "withstand international constraints", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said as pressure mounts on his country over the war in Gaza.
Israel's military exploits have been largely facilitated by supplies of equipment from the US, with Washington supplying more than two-thirds of its major conventional arms in 2023, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
But European countries, particularly Germany, have also traditionally supplied weapons and they have been increasingly critical of Israel's actions in Gaza. Berlin in August said it would not approve weapons exports to Israel for use in the enclave "until further notice".
It was a major change of direction for Germany, which has been one of Israel's staunchest international allies.
At a press conference late on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu said that if there was one lesson learnt from the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, it was that Israel needs to create an "independent weapons industry" that can "withstand international constraints".
He also said he would meet US President Donald Trump later this month after addressing the UN General Assembly.
"Trump invited me to the White House. I will meet him... after my speech at the UN," Mr Netanyahu said.
Repeating his earlier assertion about Israel's strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar last week, the Israeli Prime Minister said the attack was "justified" by the Gulf state's ties to the militant group.
"Qatar is connected to Hamas, it bolsters Hamas, it harbours Hamas, it funds Hamas... It has strong levers (that it could pull), but it chose not to," Mr Netanyahu said. "Therefore our action was entirely justified."
The unprecedented attack on the Hamas meeting in Doha was the first such Israeli strike on fellow US ally Qatar.
The bombing resulted in the death of six people, none of whom were the top Hamas officials Israel was targeting, according to the group.
