Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant outlined proposals for the future governance of the Gaza Strip after the end of the Israel-Hamas war.
Gallant stated that Palestinian rule over the territory would be limited. Hamas would no longer control the Gaza Strip, with Israel retaining overall security control, he added.
“Hamas will not govern Gaza, Israel will not govern Gaza’s civilians. Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge, with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the role of the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited rule, while Gallant did not provide details on what Palestinian governance would look like.
The entity controlling the territory will build on the capabilities of the existing administrative mechanism [civil committees] in Gaza – local non-hostile actors.
Egypt will also play an undefined role under the plan. However, the document adds that Palestinians would be responsible for administering the territory. Egypt offered to hold elections while assuring Hamas that its members would not be persecuted.
In turn, the Islamist militant group rejected any concessions other than the release of hostages. In response to the Egyptian proposal, a Hamas spokesman indicated that the future of Gaza could only be determined by the Palestinians themselves, making any relinquishment of power under Israeli threat unacceptable. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh claimed:
“Any arrangement in Gaza or in the Palestinian cause without Hamas or the resistance factions is a delusion.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for an immediate end to the war in the Gaza Strip and the convening of an international peace conference to forge a lasting political solution leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state.
A senior US official revealed that the idea of an international conference has been discussed by various partners, but the proposal is still at a very preliminary stage.
Abbas claimed he would revitalise the weakened Palestinian Authority, implement long-awaited reforms and hold presidential and parliamentary elections, which were suspended after Hamas won in 2006 and later ousted the Palestinian authority from the Gaza Strip.
Abbas did not provide a specific vision of the post-war plan discussed with US officials under which the Palestinian Authority would take control over the enclave.
Netanyahu stated that Israel would not accept Palestinian Authority rule over the Gaza Strip in its current form.
