Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “make a decision and declare that Israel will not govern the Gaza Strip with civilians and that there will be no military government.” According to the defense chief, having a security apparatus in Gaza the day after the defeat of Hamas would entail unnecessary costs in Israeli lives.
Gallant’s departure from the executive line: the request is not to have civilian control of the enclave, not to establish a military government and immediately promote an alternative to Hamas for the government of the Gaza Strip, because governing it “is a bad alternative, strategically dangerous for Israel and for security”.
“The end of the military campaign – Gallant further explained – must be accompanied by political action. The day after Hamas can only be achieved with Palestinian entities taking control of Gaza, with international actors and the establishment of an alternative government to the power of Hamas. This, above all, is the interest of the State of Israel.” Gallant then criticized the government’s indecision arguing that “in essence, it is 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 point of view: I will not agree with the establishment of an Israeli military government in Gaza.”
The ultra-Orthodox reacted immediately. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi have called for Gallant to be removed. “Such a defense minister must be replaced to achieve the objectives of the war,” Ben Gvir was quoted as saying by Haaretz. “From his point of view, there is no difference whether Gaza will be controlled by Israeli soldiers or by Hamas killers.”
As always, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must navigate a stormy government, whose comment, apparently in response to Gallant, is that “Hamas must be eliminated to pave the way towards an alternative government in Gaza”.
