The Israeli government is currently experiencing a split over the war in Gaza, which became evident this week when Defense Minister Yoav Gallant publicly demanded a clear strategy from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This demand came as Israeli troops resumed battling Hamas fighters in areas previously thought to be cleared months ago.
Gallant stated he would not support the establishment of a military government in Gaza, highlighting a growing concern within the security establishment regarding the lack of a clear plan from Netanyahu on who will govern Gaza once the fighting ends. This has exacerbated tensions within the government, exposing a rift between centrist former army generals in the cabinet, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, who supported Gallant’s stance, and the hard-right nationalist religious factions led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who opposed Gallant’s comments.
“That’s no way to run a war,” the right-wing Israel Today tabloid headlined its Thursday edition over a photo of Netanyahu and Gallant facing in different directions.
Apart from dismantling Hamas and securing the return of around 130 hostages held by the Islamist group, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not articulated a clear strategic goal for the end of the Gaza campaign. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of approximately 35,000 Palestinians and has left Israel increasingly isolated on the international stage.
Netanyahu, supported by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, both of whom are close to the West Bank settler movement, has rejected any involvement of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in postwar Gaza. The PA, established under the Oslo interim peace accords three decades ago, is widely regarded internationally as the most legitimate Palestinian governing body.
Struggling to maintain cohesion within his increasingly fractious coalition, Netanyahu has adhered to his pledge of achieving total victory over Hamas. He proposed that postwar Gaza could be managed by a “non-Hamas civilian administration with an Israeli military responsibility,” as he mentioned in an interview with CNBC television. Israeli officials have suggested that local Palestinian clan leaders or civil society figures might be recruited to fill the governance void. However, there is no evidence that any such leaders have been identified or are willing to replace Hamas, and no friendly Arab countries have volunteered to assist.
Yossi Mekelberg, an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, highlighted the dilemma: “From Israel, the options are either they end the war and withdraw, or they establish a military government there, controlling the entire territory indefinitely, because once they leave an area, Hamas will reappear.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s refusal to consider a permanent military government in Gaza underscores the significant material and political costs of such an operation, potentially recalling Israel’s protracted occupation of southern Lebanon after the 1982 war. Michael Milshtein, a former intelligence officer and expert on Hamas, noted that fully controlling Gaza would require about four divisions, or around 50,000 troops. Despite the campaign’s heavy toll on Hamas fighters, smaller groups have re-emerged in areas the Israeli army vacated in the early stages of the conflict, indicating ongoing guerrilla tactics.
“They are a very flexible organisation and they can adjust very quickly,” Milshtein said. “They have adopted new patterns of guerrilla warfare.”
The high cost of a prolonged insurgency for Israel was underscored on Wednesday when five Israeli soldiers were killed by an Israeli tank in a “friendly fire” incident during intense battles in the Jabalia area, north of Gaza City.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel’s military spokesman, stated that the military’s task is to dismantle areas where Hamas is attempting to regroup. However, he emphasized that the decision regarding an alternative government to Hamas lies at the political level.
While most surveys indicate broad Israeli support for the war, this support is waning, with a growing number of people prioritizing the return of hostages over the complete destruction of Hamas. Continued incidents like the “friendly fire” incident could further erode this support.
The broader social divisions within Israel are evident in the ongoing dispute over the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Torah students into the military. This move, supported by Gantz, his allies, and many secular Israelis, is fiercely opposed by religious parties. Netanyahu has so far managed to prevent a walkout by either side, which could collapse his government.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who previously led a revolt against Netanyahu over judicial reforms, has had repeated clashes with Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. His recent challenge to Netanyahu may not be his last.
