JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was publicly challenged about post-war plans for the Gaza Strip on Wednesday (May 15) by his own defence chief, who vowed to oppose any long-term military rule by Israel over the ravaged Palestinian enclave.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant attends a joint press conference with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin, Germany, Sept 28, 2023.JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was publicly challenged about post-war plans for the Gaza Strip on Wednesday by his own defence chief, who vowed to oppose any long-term military rule by Israel over the ravaged Palestinian enclave.
But the veteran conservative premier soon appeared to be outflanked within his own war cabinet: Centrist ex-general Benny Gantz, the only voting member of the forum other than Netanyahu and Gallant, said the defence minister had "spoke the truth". "In the absence of such an alternative, only two negative options remain: Hamas' rule in Gaza or Israeli military rule in Gaza," he added, saying he would oppose the latter scenario and urging Netanyahu to formally forswear it.
At the time, Netanyahu announced that Gallant would be fired - but backed down amid a deluge of street demonstrations. Some defence analysts believe Gallant's prediction was borne out by Hamas' ability to blindside Israeli forces a few months later. Netanyahu has refused this, describing the PA as a hostile entity - and repeated this position in a video statement he issued on social media within an hour of Gallant's remarks.
Netanyahu has said Israel would retain overall security control over Gaza after the war for the foreseeable future. He has stopped short of describing this scenario as an occupation - a status Washington does not want to see emerge - and has signalled opposition to Israelis settling the territory.
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