Israel’s defense minister has outlined for the first time preliminary plans for the post-war administration of Gaza, saying neither Israel nor Hamas will rule the Palestinian territory after hostilities there end.
The plan for “the day after” the war was revealed Thursday night, ahead of a trip to the region, by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is returning to the Middle East for the fourth time since the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the Gaza war.
Questions about the territory’s future have loomed large as calls for a ceasefire mount, with the death toll mounting and the UN warning of a humanitarian crisis that has left hundreds of thousands displaced and facing starvation and disease.
A draft of the post-war plan by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which he shared with reporters before submitting it to the country’s war cabinet, says: “Hamas will not rule Gaza, (and) Israel will not rule civilians in Gaza.”
“The residents of Gaza are Palestinians, therefore the Palestinian authorities will be in charge, provided that there are no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel,” it added.
According to the plan, which has not yet been adopted, Israel’s war in the territory will continue until it secures the return of the hostages taken on October 7 and dismantles Hamas’ “military and management capabilities”.
After that, the draft states, a new phase will begin during which local Palestinian bodies will take over the administration of the territory.
