Former Israeli defence minister warns against 'military governance' in Gaza  

Israel's former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel risks sliding into “military governance” in Gaza if the government fails to propose viable alternatives to Hamas rule in the enclave.  

He said that transferring aid distribution responsibilities to private companies, guarded by the Israeli army, would edge the government closer to "military rule", stating, “Israeli soldiers will pay for it with their blood.”  

Criticising the government’s priorities, Gallant said, “The aid will be distributed by private companies, the companies will be guarded by the IDF, and we will all pay the price.” He called a military administration in Gaza a “dangerous and irresponsible political act” outside the war’s stated objectives.

Many in the Israeli military are now looking to the "Generals' Plan", also known as the Eiland Plan, to secure the defeat of Hamas.

At its simplest, this suggestion by a group of senior Israeli reservists, involves ethnically cleansing the northern Gaza Strip of people and then besieging the region, including stopping the entry of humanitarian supplies, to starve out anyone left, including Palestinian fighters.

It is part of a military plan that legal experts have described to Middle East Eye as "genocidal" and aimed at permanent forced displacement of the northern Gaza population as settlers plan for post-war colonisation of the Palestinian enclave.