Israel has come out with a post-war plan for the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the region. According to a BBC report, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has proposed for the future governance of Gaza once the war between Israel and Hamas is over. According to the proposed outline of the plan, he said, there would be limited Palestinian rule in the territory and Hamas would no longer control the region. Furthermore, Israel would retain overall security control, he added, quoted BBC.
This comes as fighting in Gaza continues with the Hamas-run health ministry saying that dozens of people were killed in the past 24 hours.
The plan suggests a “four corner” plan with Israel retaining the overall security control of Gaza. He said that a multi-national force would take charge of rebuilding the territory after the widespread destruction caused by Israeli bombing.
As per the plan, neighbouring Egypt would also have an unspecified role to play, adding that Palestinians would be responsible for running the territory.
“Gaza residents are Palestinian, therefore Palestinian bodies will be in charge, with the condition that there will be no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel,” Israeli defence minister Gallant said, as quoted by BBC.
According to the report, some of the far right-wing members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have said that Palestinian citizens should be encouraged to leave Gaza for exile, as reestablishment of Jewish settlements will take place in the territory – which has been rejected as “extremist” and “unworkable” by other countries in the region and by some of Israel’s allies.
Experts say that Galant’s proposals could be regarded as more practical than those suggested by some of his cabinet colleagues. So far, Netanyahu has not publicly talked in any detail about governing Gaza.
However, Galant’s plan also outlined how the Israeli military aims to proceed in the next phase of the war in Gaza. He added that Israeli forces would take a more targeted approach in the north of the Gaza Strip, where several operations like raids, demolishing tunnels and air and ground strikes would take place.
He said that the Israeli military would continue to try to track down Hamas leaders and rescue Israeli hostages in the south.
ALSO READ | Israeli Forces Raid Houses In West Bank Refugee Camp, Hundreds Detained