Israeli Defense Minister Demands Netanyahu Immediately Launch Gaza Post-War Arrangement

On May 16, Israeli Defense Minister Gallant issued a video address on the 15th, calling on Prime Minister Netanyahu to make a decision to declare that Israel will not exercise "civilian control" over the Gaza Strip and will not establish "military rule". He said Netanyahu must immediately propose an alternative to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in running the Gaza Strip, and the military operation must be carried out simultaneously with the political operation. Netanyahu responded with a video statement later in the day, saying that as long as Hamas still exists, there will be no party to manage the Gaza Strip, especially the Palestinian National Authority. He said the first condition for forming an institution to control the Gaza Strip is to "eliminate Hamas".