Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has presented a proposal for the governance of Gaza following the conclusion of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Under this plan, Palestinian authority in the territory would be limited, with Hamas no longer in control of Gaza. Israel would maintain overall security oversight.
This proposal comes amid continued conflict in Gaza, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting significant casualties in the last 24 hours. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to return to the region for discussions with Palestinian officials in the West Bank and Israeli leaders, in a context of heightened tensions following the assassination of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, widely attributed to Israel.
Under Gallant’s “four corner” plan, Israel’s control over security in Gaza would persist. A multinational force is proposed to oversee the rebuilding of the territory, heavily damaged by Israeli bombings. Egypt is also expected to play a role in this framework. However, Palestinians would be responsible for the day-to-day administration of Gaza, with the caveat of no hostile actions against Israel.
The plan has sparked debate within Israel, with some far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government suggesting controversial measures like encouraging Palestinian emigration and reestablishing Jewish settlements in Gaza. These ideas have been dismissed as “extremist” and “unworkable” by regional countries and some of Israel’s allies.
While Gallant’s proposals are viewed as more pragmatic than those of his cabinet colleagues, they are likely to face rejection from Palestinian leaders, who assert that Gazans should have full autonomy in managing their territory post-war.
Netanyahu has not detailed his vision for Gaza’s governance but has indicated that the military campaign, aimed at decisively defeating Hamas, could continue for several months. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) plan a more targeted approach in the next phase of the war, focusing on operations in the north and south of the Gaza Strip.
