Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has declared that Israel will have complete freedom to respond to any situation in the Gaza Strip once the ongoing conflict concludes, according to CNN. In a meeting held at the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Gallant stressed his belief that, at the end of this campaign, Hamas, functioning as both a military organization and a governing body in Gaza, will cease to exist. He added that there will be no security threat to Israel from Gaza, and Israel will retain full authority to address potential threats in the Gaza Strip.
These statements are consistent with recent comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stated that Israel would assume overall security responsibility in Gaza for an unspecified duration after the conflict. However, the Israeli government has not disclosed detailed plans for governing Gaza in the event of Hamas’s elimination. The post-war situation in Gaza remains uncertain, and concerns persist regarding how Israel intends to manage it. As of November 6, the recent violence has resulted in over 1,400 deaths in Israel and at least 10,022 in Gaza, according to reports from both sides.
Furthermore, Netanyahu, during an interview broadcast on Monday night, announced that Israel would take on “security responsibility” over the Gaza Strip indefinitely following its conflict with Hamas. He expressed concerns about the potential consequences of not assuming security responsibility, underscoring the risk of renewed Hamas terrorism.
The war with Hamas was triggered by approximately 3,000 individuals breaching the Gaza border on October 7, resulting in the deaths of roughly 1,400 people, primarily civilians, and the abduction of over 240 individuals, including at least 30 children, as reported by CNN. Gallant emphasized that the primary goal of the war was to eliminate Hamas, and he remained dedicated to achieving victory and ensuring the return of Israeli hostages.
In relation to the conflict, U.S. President Joe Biden advised Israel against reoccupying Gaza. He emphasized the significance of the Palestinian Authority and the path to a Palestinian state, recognizing that not all Palestinians are aligned with Hamas and its extremist elements. During an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on October 15, Biden argued that it would be a “major error” for Israel to reoccupy Gaza. He also voiced the view that Hamas should be completely eradicated but stressed the need for a Palestinian Authority and a path to a Palestinian state.
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