Israeli defence minister triggers cabinet split over Gaza plan
Yoav Gallant has clashed publicly with Benjamin Netanyahu over what he considers a lack of planning for a postwar Gaza.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has clashed publicly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what he considers a lack of planning for a postwar Gaza.
Mr Gallant warned that “indecision is, in essence, a decision which leads to a dangerous course, which promotes the idea of Israeli military and civilian governance in Gaza”.
He said he would “not agree to the establishment of Israeli military rule in Gaza”, adding that Israel must not establish “civilian rule in Gaza” either.
In a televised statement, he said he had repeatedly pleaded with the cabinet to make a decision on a postwar vision for Gaza that would result in the creation of a new Palestinian civilian leadership. However, Mr Gallant said the government had refused to discuss the issue.
“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 military governance in the Gaza Strip and that a governing alternative to Hamas in the Gaza Strip will be advanced immediately,” he said.
The row places more pressure on the war cabinet, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for Mr Gallant to be replaced.
Frustration has been building behind the scenes towards Mr Netanyahu over the lack of a plan.
Israel has vowed to crush Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, since it launched a cross-border raid on southern Israel on October 7 and killed some 1200 civilians.
Mr Gallant’s comments come after the Israeli leader said in a statement that discussion on ruling Gaza after the war was “empty talk” so long as Hamas walked in Gaza.
“Until it is clear that Hamas does not militarily control Gaza, no entity will be willing to take civilian management of Gaza for fear of its well-being,” Mr Netanyahu said.
“The first condition for preparing the ground for another entity is to destroy Hamas, and to do so without making excuses.”
Hamas has reconstituted itself in Jabaliya and Zeitoun in northern Gaza, firing rockets into Israeli territory and fighting Israeli soldiers face-to-face, causing several injuries and casualties.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in response to the debate over Gaza’s postwar future that “the Hamas movement is here to stay”.
South Africa will ask the top UN court on Thursday to order an immediate halt to Israel’s incursion in Rafah, describing it as a “genocidal” operation threatening the “very survival of Palestinians”.
Top lawyers for Pretoria will kick off two days of hearings at the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice, imploring judges to order a ceasefire throughout Gaza.
Israel will respond on Friday. It has previously highlighted its “unwavering” commitment to upholding international law and described South Africa’s case as “wholly unfounded” and “morally repugnant”.
In a ruling that made headlines around the world, the ICJ in January ordered Israel to do everything in its power to prevent genocidal acts and enable humanitarian aid to Gaza.
But the court stopped short of ordering a ceasefire and South Africa’s argument is that the situation on the ground – notably the Rafah operation – requires fresh ICJ action.
On Wednesday, the US military said it had started moving a pier towards the Gaza coast, one of the last steps before the launch of a maritime port promised by Presidemt Joe Biden to speed the flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinians. It was also announced that a British shipment of nearly 100 tonnes of aid had left Cyprus bound for the pier, the Foreign Office said.
The UN has warned of a looming famine in the strip, where Hamas-run local health authorities say more than 35,000 people have died since the war began in October.
The Times
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