Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has expressed frustration with the government’s failure to address plans for Gaza post-war. In a rare public display of disagreement within Israel’s war cabinet, Gallant called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly declare that Israel has no intentions to assume civilian and military control in Gaza.
“I have consistently raised this issue in the Cabinet since October, and have yet to receive a response,” Gallant stated.
Prime Minister Netanyahu responded firmly, stating he was “unwilling to trade Hamastan for Fatahstan,” alluding to rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. He cautioned that indecision would leave only two undesirable options for Gaza: continued Hamas rule or direct Israeli military control.
“Gallant speaks the truth,” remarked another war cabinet member, Benny Gantz, who has previously clashed with Netanyahu. “It is the duty of leadership to prioritize the nation’s interests above all else.”
Gallant revealed that the defense establishment, under his leadership, had presented a war plan to the cabinet on the very night Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza commenced last October. He disclosed that the plan included proposals for establishing a local, non-hostile Palestinian governing entity.