JAKARTA - Defense Minister Yoav Gallany firmly rejected Israel's military rule in the postwar Gaza Strip, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to explain his plans regarding civilian rule in the Palestinian enclave.
"The day after Hamas, it will only be achieved if Palestinian entities take control of Gaza, accompanied by international actors, build an alternative government against the Hamas government," Defense Minister Gallant said at military headquarters Isrfael.
"I call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make a decision and state Israel will not carry out civilian control over the Gaza Strip, that Israel will not form a military government in the Gaza Strip, and that alternative governments other than Hamas in the Gaza Strip will soon be raised," he explained.
Gallant's remarks came as serious questions about Israel's long-term strategy in Gaza emerged both inside and outside Israel, after the IDF again sent its troops to the northern region of Gaza which it had withdrawn several months ago to combat Hamas militants returning to the region.
Israeli military officials have quietly warned that a lack of long-term strategy in postwar governance would result in a similar pattern recurrence across Gaza.
Last December, PM Netanyahu said the IDF should maintain control of the Gaza Strip's ceasefire after the war, denying the idea that international forces could be responsible for security in the Palestinian enclave.
"The day after (war), Gaza had to be stripped. And so that Gaza could be stripped, there was only one force that could confirm it and that power was the IDF," said PM Netanyahu at the time.
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"No international force is responsible for that," he continued.
In January, Defense Minister Gallant said Gaza must be ruled by Palestinians, after militant groups are eliminated.
"Palestinians live in Gaza and therefore the Palestinian people will rule Gaza in the future. Future government authorities in Gaza must emerge from within the Gaza Strip, based on actors who are not hostile to the State of Israel," he explained, citing TASS.
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