Israel must have military control of Gaza after war, says Defense Minister

The majority of the Israeli public agrees with Gallant’s stated proposal of having the IDF maintain security controls in Gaza.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Addressing members of the Knesset, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant insisted that Israel must have military control over Gaza after the war, similar to the arrangement in Judea and Samaria.

Gallant told members of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, “After the war, when it’s over, I think it’s completely clear that Hamas won’t control Gaza.”

He added, “Israel will control [it] militarily but won’t control it in a civilian sense.”

Gallant explained, “When we’re talking about military freedom of operation, look what happened tonight in Jenin.”

Gallant was referring to counterterrorism operation in the a hospital in Jenin where the IDF killed three terrorists plotting an October 7th style massacre.

“This is military freedom of operation at the highest level, and yet we don’t control the area in a civilian sense,” Gallant says. “This is achievable [in Gaza as well], and it will take time.”

He said the IDF’s military operations in Gaza were “finite” and Israeli forces were achieving their goals in the area despite challenges.

Gallant called for “unity on a national level” to ensure the war effort is successful.

The majority of the Israeli public agrees with Gallant’s stated proposal of having the IDF maintain security controls in Gaza.

According to a survey conducted by Tel Aviv University, around 70% of Israeli Jews support IDF security control in Gaza after the war and 25% agree that international and Arab forces should rule Gaza. Just 2% believed the Palestinian Authority should control Gaza in the aftermath of the war.

The Biden Administration has insisted that a “rejuvenated” Palestinian Authority should rule Gaza after the war, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected this solution.

The IDF’s ability to quell a potential terrorist plan as they did at the hospital on Tuesday night is an example of the need for Israel’s security control also in Gaza, say supporters of Gallant’s plan.