Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outlined Israel’s plans for the next phase of its assault on the besieged Gaza Strip and future scenarios for the day after the end of the war.
“In the northern region of the Gaza Strip, we will shift to a new combat approach based on military achievements on the ground,” Gallant’s office said in a statement outlining guiding principles reflecting Gallant’s vision for the coming years. phases of the war. THURSDAY.
He said the operations would include raids, tunnel demolitions, air and ground strikes and special forces operations.
In the south of the besieged enclave – where most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents now live, most in tents and other temporary shelters – the operation would continue to try to eliminate Hamas leaders and rescue the Israeli hostages.
“This will continue for as long as it is deemed necessary,” the statement said.
Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after the October 7 attack by Hamas gunmen who killed some 1,140 people in communities near Gaza and took about 240 captive as hostages, according to Israeli estimates.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 22,400 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and forced most of the population from their homes and reduced much of Gaza to rubble.
After the war
Gallant also outlined Israel’s plans for Gaza after the war. He declared that Hamas would no longer control Gaza and that Israel would retain its operational freedom of action. But he said there would be no Israeli civilian presence and that Palestinian agencies would be in charge of the enclave.
“Gaza residents are Palestinian, so Palestinian bodies will be in charge, provided there are no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel,” Gallant’s office said in a statement on Thursday. a statement.
Tel Aviv Tribune’s Sara Khairat, reporting from Tel Aviv, said Gallant had made it clear that Israeli officials wanted a “Palestinian entity” to be tasked with managing civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip, but with “very conditions.” specific”.
“These conditions are that they will not act in a hostile manner towards Israel, and they will not act against it in any way,” Khairat said.
Israel has repeatedly stated that there is “no place” for Hamas in Gaza’s post-war civilian structures. Several Israeli officials, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have also said Israel would permanently control the Gaza Strip and eventually resettle Israelis there.
Gallant also said Israel would have “complete freedom to conduct military operations in Gaza,” Khairat said.
“This is something we saw in the occupied West Bank,” she noted.
“Multinational working group”
As part of a so-called restructuring, Israel also intends to create a “multinational task force including… Western and Arab nations,” Gallant told reporters. This force, Khairat said, will seek to govern the border area.
Israel wants to lead this force and wants it to be responsible for restructuring and redevelopment of the Gaza Strip, she said.
“Egypt, Israel and the United States are working together to ensure close surveillance of this border,” Khairat added.
Gallant said this is one of several potential plans officials will discuss in upcoming meetings.
Meanwhile, Hamas is gaining popularity in the occupied Palestinian territories. He governs Gaza and enjoys the support of several other Palestinian factions. The group has repeatedly said it will stand firm and expressed its refusal to leave the territory.
Hamas fighters continue to battle Israeli ground troops in central Gaza and parts of southern Gaza.
Military operations in the south continued on Thursday, although the area was previously declared “safe” by the Israeli army after forcing thousands of Palestinian families to flee their homes in the north, east and center of Gaza.
Many displaced people are now crowded into the Rafah governorate, south of Gaza. The Health Ministry has warned that the disease is spreading there due to a lack of much-needed supplies, medicine, clean water and fuel.
The United Nations says nearly 1.9 million people have been displaced, more than 80 percent of the Gaza Strip’s pre-war population.