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Palestinians to govern Gaza Strip after war over, Israeli Defense Minister says

Yoav Gallant noted that "political indecision may harm the progress of the military operation"

TEL AVIV, January 16. /TASS/. The Gaza Strip will be managed by the Palestinians after the threat from the radicals is eliminated, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in his televised address.

"Palestinians live in Gaza and therefore Palestinians will govern Gaza in the future. The future governing authority in Gaza must arise from within the Gaza strip and be based on actors that are non-hostile to the State of Israel," Gallant said. "The end of the military campaign must be anchored in policy."

He noted that "political indecision may harm the progress of the military operation."

"I have submitted a plan to the cabinet. It is the duty of the cabinet and the government to discuss the plan like any other plan, and to determine the goal," he said, without providing any details.

On January 14, Gallant called on the Israeli government to take measures to strengthen the positions of the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank to counter the Hamas movement, which has been governing the Gaza Strip since 2007.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. Hamas has cast the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel has declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and started a military operation there. Israel also strikes parts of Lebanon and Syria in retaliation for bombardments originating from these countries. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.