Absence of Gaza post-war plan to take us back to Oct. 6: Israeli media
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Israeli media say the Israeli military intends to increase military pressure on Hamas to push for a prisoner exchange deal, despite the failure of such a strategy in recent months.
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Israeli soldiers move on armored personnel carriers (APC) near the border with Gaza, in southern occupied Palestine, on Wednesday, Dec.18, 2024 (AP Photo)
Israeli military officials have repeatedly warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the lack of a "day after" plan for the war on the Gaza Strip will lead to the rehabilitation of Hamas’ authority, Israeli media reported.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth cited the officials as saying that "to bring down Hamas’ rule, there must be a decision between handing over the reins to the Palestinian Authority or establishing military governance, but Netanyahu rejects both alternatives."
The officials also cautioned that the situation in the Gaza Strip could spill over into the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military officials warned that the absence of a "day after" plan for the war on Gaza would bring "Israel" back to the reality of October 6, 2023, jeopardizing what they described as the "achievements of the war."
The officials claimed that while the Israeli military managed to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, it failed to dismantle the governing authority of the movement that controls the Gaza Strip.
The officials outlined three options for undermining Hamas’ rule: the first is handing over the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority with financial and logistical support from the United States and Gulf states. The second involves a normalization deal between "Israel" and Saudi Arabia, which they described as a historic step that would transform the Middle East. The third option is establishing military governance in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier, Channel 12’s Palestinian affairs analyst Ohad Hemo indicated that "Hamas has successfully rebuilt itself in the Gaza Strip."
IOF to increase military pressure on Hamas
In a related context, Channel 12 also reported that the Israeli military intends to increase military pressure on Hamas to push for a prisoner exchange deal.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Army Radio cited sources as saying, "It cannot be said that negotiations for a prisoner exchange deal are frozen, but there have been no new developments so far.”
The sources added that the Israeli military is trying to pressure Hamas to conclude the deal, despite the failure of such an approach in recent months.
Former Mossad chief Danny Yatom previously told Maariv newspaper, "We should have concluded long ago that the use of force endangers the captives."
Read more: Majority of Israelis dissatisfied with Netanyahu's government: Poll
