The Israeli newspaper Ma’ariv stated that the War Council, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ya’akov Galant, and Minister Benny Gantz, seems to harbor hopes of easily finding a civilian alternative to the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in Gaza, akin to living in a fantasy world. However, they are not alone in this delusion.
In an article titled “Civilian Alternative to Hamas? Netanyahu, Galant, and Gantz Living in a Fantasy World,” Hayim Ramon wrote that despite the losses suffered by the Israeli army, the War Council is failing in its essential task of giving orders to dismantle Hamas’ civilian rule in Gaza.
Ramon expressed bewilderment at the fact that the military leadership has not yet declared an immediate military rule to replace the civilian rule that Hamas had established.
According to Ramon, Hamas will remain the de facto ruler in Gaza until another civilian rule is established, indicating that there is no real gap in governance so far.
Virtual Reality
Ramon cited examples of areas from which the Israeli army withdrew, only for Hamas to return and establish its governing bodies, such as its police force in Gaza City and in the northern part of the Strip. Despite this, the War Council trio – according to Ramon – persist in living in a virtual world where they imagine that establishing an alternative civilian rule is an easy task, which also applies to the highest levels of political and security power.
The Israeli writer added that all commentators and journalists oppose military rule in Gaza and advocate for a civilian rule that only exists in their vivid imagination.
For instance, retired Air Force general and former head of military intelligence, Amos Yadlin – a prominent political commentator – called for the initiation of building an alternative to Hamas that would gradually bring about positive change in the reality of the region.
Ramon mentioned Yadlin’s opinion that the alternative governance system to Hamas would involve technocrats and municipal employees who operated under Hamas’s authority, managed by Hamas officials.
The Israeli writer concluded that Yadlin refuted his own idea by admitting that these solutions cannot be immediately implemented throughout Gaza because no one will enter areas where Hamas’ military power has not been neutralized. He then noted that Yadlin simultaneously supports a military rule in the sector, posing the question: How does all of this align?
Ramon ended his article by stating that the real absurdity, for him, is not the presentation of such perplexing views but their complete adoption by the War Council.
