Israel’s Defence Minister Unveils Post-War Gaza Plan

(CTN News) – Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has presented his proposal for the administration of the Gaza Strip after the war, highlighting that neither Hamas nor Israel would govern the Palestinian territory.

Prior to submitting the plan to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet, Gallant shared its outline with the press. The cabinet has been divided in recent weeks regarding the future of Gaza after the removal of Hamas, which has held power since 2007.

According to the proposal, Israel will persist with its military operations in the region until the hostages,

Who were seized on October 7, are safely returned. Additionally, the plan entails dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capacities, as well as eradicating any remaining military risks.

Once these goals are accomplished, a subsequent phase will commence, wherein Hamas will no longer exert control over Gaza and will not pose a security menace to Israeli citizens. Local Palestinian entities will then assume governance of the territory.

The plan also asserts that Israel retains the right to operate within the Gaza Strip, but there will be no Israeli civilian presence once the war’s objectives have been accomplished.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir recently called for settlers to return to the area and proposed a solution to encourage the emigration of Gaza’s Palestinian population. These comments have drawn criticism from Arab states and the United States, a key ally.

Gallant’s proposal suggests that the residents of Gaza, who are Palestinian, will have control over their own governance, as long as they do not engage in hostile actions or pose threats to Israel.

The plan recommends utilizing the existing administrative mechanism in Gaza, specifically the civil committees. On the other hand, the United States has suggested that Gaza should be governed by a revitalized Palestinian Authority, which is currently based in the occupied West Bank.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Palestinian Authority prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh stressed the importance of finding a political solution that encompasses the entire Palestine region, not just Gaza. Shtayyeh believes that Israel intends to politically separate Gaza from the West Bank and predicts that Israel will establish its own civil administration under its occupying army.

Consequently, the future of the situation after this transition remains uncertain. Gallant’s plan aligns with the upcoming visit of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will be traveling to the Middle East to advocate for increased humanitarian aid for Gaza and to prevent any further escalation of the conflict in the region.

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