Gallant, Gantz slam idea of incremental military gov’t in Gaza; Smotrich accuses them of weakness
Gallant made this statement in response to discussions about distributing food to Palestinian residents of Gaza by private companies under the IDF's security.
Former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that "a military government in Gaza is not part of the goals of the war, but a dangerous and irresponsible political act" in a post on Twitter/X on Wednesday, as the IDF also announced that two soldiers had died, crossing the 800 soldier threshold to 801 for the war.
הדיון שיעסוק ב״חלוקת המזון לתושבי עזה בידי חברות פרטיות באבטחת צה״ל״ הוא מכבסת מילים לתחילתו של ממשל צבאי. את מחיר הדמים ישלמו חיילי צה״ל ותשלם מדינת ישראל לאור סדר עדיפויות לקוי שיביא להזנחת משימות ביטחוניות חשובות יותר. הכל תלוי בהכנה מבעוד מועד של גורם אלטרנטיבי שיחליף את…
— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) November 20, 2024
Gallant made this statement in response to cabinet discussions about distributing food to Palestinian residents of Gaza by private companies under the IDF's security.
"These are empty words for the beginning of a military government," he added. "The price will be paid by the blood of the IDF soldiers, and the State of Israel will pay in its own poor order of priorities that will lead to neglecting more important security tasks.
"Everything depends on the preparation ahead of time of an alternative entity that will replace the IDF in Gaza. Otherwise, we are on the way to a military government and will all pay the price," he added.
Subsequently, top opposition official and former war cabinet minister and IDF chief Benny Gantz seconded Gallant's comments, “Israeli security control of Gaza - necessary. Israeli rule, with our soldiers handling sewage and trash – a disaster.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not responded publicly. But until now, he has, on one side, never publicly endorsed Israeli civil control of Gaza, yet on the other side has prevented the Palestinian Authority, with supervision from other Arab countries and the US, from taking civilian control. In turn, he has suggested Arab countries and the US take on Gaza, but none of those parties are willing to without the PA being at least partially involved.
Smotrich attacks Gallant for post
Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich attacked Gallant for his post and tossed in the defense establishment with Gallant, saying that their conceptual framework has led to weakness and worse results during the war.
Smotrich said that their refusal to seize territory and limiting the IDF to fighting Hamas and then retreating is what has caused much of the delay in defeating Hamas as a political entity.
Much of the world has stridently opposed any Israeli civilian control in Gaza, even at an incremental level, but some in the Netanyahu government may believe that the incoming Trump administration may be more open to such ideas.
Gallant was fired by Netanyahu in early November and was replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Netanyahu and Gallant have clashed over the ultra-Orthodox exemption from IDF service and of Netanyahu’s unwillingness to cut a hostage deal with Hamas in exchange for a Gaza withdrawal.
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