Israel’s defense minister attacks Netanyahu over Gaza’s future

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has expressed frustration at the government’s failure to address the issue of a post-war plan for Gaza.

In a rare public sign of disagreement over the direction of the military campaign in Israel’s war cabinet, Mr. Gallant called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly declare that Israel has no plans to take over civilian and military rule in Gaza.

“I have raised this issue repeatedly in Cabinet since October,” he said, “and have received no response.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded sharply, saying he was “not ready to trade Hamastan for Fatahstan,” referring to rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah.

Indecision, he warned, would leave only two bad options in Gaza: Hamas rule or Israeli military rule.

Both “would undermine our military successes, reduce pressure on Hamas and sabotage the chances of establishing a framework for the release of hostages,” Gallant said.

Another war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, who has disagreed with Netanyahu in the past, agreed with the defense minister: “Gallant speaks the truth. It is the leadership’s responsibility to do what is right for the country at all costs.”

Mr. Gallant said the defense establishment he heads had already submitted a war plan to the Cabinet on the night Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza began last October. He said the plans included proposals “to create a local, non-hostile Palestinian government alternative.”

The day after, he said, Hamas “can only be achieved through the takeover of control of Gaza by Palestinian entities accompanied by international actors.”

He said these proposals were never discussed and no alternatives were presented.

Mr Gallant said the failure to present a plan was leading Israel on a “dangerous course” involving Israeli military and civilian rule over Gaza.

He described this prospect as “strategically, militarily and security-wise a negative and dangerous option for the State of Israel.”

“I must reiterate: I will not agree to the establishment of Israeli military rule in Gaza. Israel must not establish civilian rule in Gaza.”

“I call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make a decision and declare that Israel will not establish civilian control over the Gaza Strip, that Israel will not establish a military government in the Gaza Strip, and that this will be a government alternative to Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” immediately be collected.”

There have been recent indications in Israeli press reports that military leaders have grave concerns about the lack of a viable plan for Gaza after the war ends. Mr. Gallant’s comments tonight bring these concerns to light in a politically charged way.

During a visit to Ukraine on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said Israel must present a clear plan for Gaza’s future.

“We cannot have anarchy and a vacuum that is likely to be filled by chaos,” Blinken said.

Mr Netanyahu has previously insisted that discussions over Gaza’s future government were just “empty talks” as long as Hamas remained in the territory.