Jerusalem, May 18, 2024 — Israeli minister Benny Gantz announced on Saturday that he would resign from the “war cabinet” unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves a comprehensive plan for the Gaza Strip. Gantz, addressing Netanyahu in a televised statement, demanded that the war cabinet formulate and approve an action plan by June 8 that includes six strategic goals crucial to national security.
“The war cabinet must formulate and approve by June 8 an action plan that will lead to the realisation of six strategic goals of national importance, or we will be forced to resign from the government,” Gantz stated. The six goals include the toppling of Hamas, ensuring Israeli security control over Gaza, and the return of Israeli prisoners.
Gantz proposed that, along with maintaining Israeli security control, a coalition of American, European, Arab, and Palestinian administrations should manage Gaza’s civilian affairs. This coalition would lay the groundwork for a future alternative to Hamas and the current Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas.
Gantz also called for the normalization of ties with Saudi Arabia as part of a broader alliance with the free world and the Arab world against Iran and its affiliates.
The war cabinet, established to manage the ongoing conflict with Hamas, has recently faced significant internal divisions. These splits have intensified after reports of Hamas fighters regrouping in northern Gaza, contradicting previous Israeli claims that the area had been neutralized.
Earlier this week, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant criticized Netanyahu for not ruling out the possibility of an Israeli government in Gaza after normalizing relations with other nations. Netanyahu’s rejection of a post-war Palestinian leadership in Gaza has not only widened the rift among top Israeli politicians but also strained relations with the United States, Israel’s key ally. Washington has been pressing for a swift end to the conflict and has suggested a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza.
The lack of a clear plan for Gaza’s future is seen by experts as advantageous to Hamas. International Crisis Group analyst Mairav Zonszein warned that without a viable alternative, Hamas would continue to thrive. Emmanuel Navon, a lecturer at Tel Aviv University, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of establishing either an Israeli military government or an Arab-led government to prevent Hamas from regaining strength.
“Without an alternative to fill the vacuum, Hamas will continue to grow,” Zonszein remarked. Navon added, “If only Hamas is left in Gaza, of course they are going to appear here and there and the Israeli army will be forced to chase them around.”
The ongoing debate over Gaza’s future governance highlights the complexity of achieving long-term peace and stability in the region, with significant implications for Israeli security and international diplomacy.