Minister Gallant attacks Netanyahu and splits the government: “Say that he will not occupy Gaza in the post-Hamas era.” Bibi: “I won’t leave it to Fatah”

The unrestrained declarations of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tease Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cause yet another earthquake within the Israeli majority. Gallant attacks the prime minister and fellow party member by asking him for clarity on the future of Gaza: he must “make a decision and declare that Israel will not govern the Gaza Strip and that […]

The unrestrained declarations of the Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallanttease the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cause yet another earthquake within the Israeli majority. Gallant attacks the prime minister and fellow party member by asking him for clarity on the future of Gaza: must “make a decision and declare that Israel he will not govern the Strip of Gaza and that there will be no military government“, he said. Words that triggered the reaction of the settlers’ representatives in the government, the Minister for National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and that of the Economy Bezalel Smotrichwho asked the resignation of my defense colleague.

According to Gallant, having a security apparatus in Gaza the day after the defeat of Hamas would entail unnecessary costs of Israeli lives. Behind his words, however, an electoral strategy could also be hidden. The Likud can’t wait to download Bibinow largely compromised after the massacre of October 7and the internal war to replace him has already begun for months, while the opposition leader Benny Gantz flies in consensus. “The end of the military campaign – explained Gallant – must be accompanied by political action. The ‘day after Hamas’ can only be achieved with Palestinian entities who take control of Gaza, with international actors and the establishment of an alternative government to the power of Hamas. This is the interest of the State of Israel.” Gallant then criticized the government’s indecision, arguing that “it is essentially a decision and this leads to a dangerous path, which promotes the idea of ​​an Israeli military and civilian government in Gaza. This is a negative and dangerous option for the State of Israel strategically, militarily and from a security perspective. I repeat, I will not agree with the establishment of an Israeli military government in Gaza.”

Netanyahu’s response arrived in the evening, addressing his critical party comrade directly, reiterating that, however, he has no intention of handing the strip over to thePalestinian National Authority. “As long as Hamas remains in Gaza, no one else will govern the Strip, certainly not the Palestinian National Authority,” he said. Hamastan to Fatahstan“.

But the prime minister’s response was not enough to guarantee calm within the executive Tel Aviv. So much so that the representatives of religious ultranationalism, Ben Gvir and Smotrich, lashed out against Gallanti, asking for his resignation. “Such a defense minister – said the minister for national security, known for supporting the demands of illegal settlers in the Occupied Territories – must be replaced to achieve the objectives of the war. From his point of view there is no difference whether Gaza will be controlled by Israeli soldiers or whether it will be controlled by Hamas murderers. This is the essence of the Defense Minister’s conception which failed on October 7 and continues to fail even now.” For Smotrich, also a great supporter of illegal settlements, Gallant “announced today his support for the creation of a Palestinian terrorist state as a reward to Hamas for the most terrible massacre of the Jewish people since theHolocaust“.