From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Israel’s plan for the ‘day after’ Hamas will start rolling out in northern Gaza in coming days — Hanegbi
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Israel’s plan for the “day after” Hamas will start to be implemented in northern Gaza in the coming days, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi says.
Speaking at the Reichman University Herzliya Conference, Hanegbi says that the Israel Defense Forces plan has “been sharpened” in recent weeks, and that “we will see a practical expression of this plan” shortly.
“We don’t have to wait for Hamas to disappear, because it is a long process,” says Hanegbi.
The Netanyahu government has been under fire for months for its unwillingness to implement a plan to replace Hamas.
Hanegbi argues that installing a process to replace Hamas is key to long-term victory in Gaza: “We can’t get rid of Hamas as an idea, there we need an alternative idea.”
The alternative, he says, is a government based on locals who are willing to live alongside Israel. They must be backed up by moderate Arab states, he says.
“The minute Hamas’s ability to operate its military and civil systems like it could on October 7 is taken away, there will be more ability for countries that want to see a governing alternative to Hamas in Gaza, with local leadership in Gaza, to join this process.” he explains.
“It’s starting to take form now.”
Family members of hostages including Ayala Metzger, whose father-in-law, the elderly Yoram Metzger, is currently kidnapped in Gaza and Dani Elgarat, whose brother Itzik Elgarat is also held in the Strip, shout at the senior Netanyahu aide about the remaining captives.
Hanegbi says that he agrees that time is not working in the hostages’ favor but expresses some optimism that current efforts to reach a deal will succeed.
“Today the massive international pressure is on Hamas; there is a chance it will work,” he explains, adding that Qatar is also under pressure to get the terror organization’s leadership abroad to back the proposal presented by US President Joe Biden on May 31.
Hanegbi calls that offer “an Israeli proposal.”
He also praises the talks he and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer held in Washington late last week.
The conversations were “the most intimate, the most focused on the issue of the hostages with the central people in the White House,” he recounts, adding that Israel is “under the impression that the US commitment is 100%.”
“We must stand firm and united around this proposal, because it will start the comprehensive process to bring all the hostages home,” says Hanegbi.
On attempts to reach a diplomatic solution in the north with Hezbollah, Hanegbi says that Israel and the US “believe in” American-led efforts to stave off a broader conflict.
“If there is not an arrangement through diplomatic means, everyone understands there will be an arrangement through other means,” he warns.
