DOHA, Qatar: Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Wednesday that the movement will decide on a post-war government in Gaza along with other Palestinian factions.
“We are saying that the Hamas movement is here to stay… and it will be the movement and all national (Palestinian) factions who will decide the post-war government in Gaza,” Hamas chief Haniyeh said in a televised address.
He also said the fate of the truce talks was uncertain after Israel “insisted on occupying the Rafah crossing and expanding aggression” in Palestinian territory since the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
Haniyeh’s speech marked the 76th anniversary of the “Nakba,” when around 760,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during the creation of Israel in 1948.
Haniyeh reiterated the movement’s stance on the ceasefire talks, which have once again reached an impasse.
Any agreement must ensure a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from all sectors of the Gaza Strip, a real agreement on prisoner exchange, return of displaced persons, reconstruction and lifting of the siege of Gaza, Haniyeh demanded.
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His comments came after Israeli PM Netanyahu said any discussion about who rules Gaza after the war was “empty talk” as long as Hamas remained in the territory.
“Until it is clear that Hamas does not control Gaza militarily, no entity will be willing to take over the civilian administration of Gaza out of fear for its well-being,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
“The first condition to prepare the ground for another entity is to destroy Hamas, without excuses,” he said.
However, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant appeared to challenge Netanyahu, saying that it must have been the Palestinian entities that rule Gaza after Hamas was defeated.
He called on Netanyahu to make a decision and declare that Israel will not impose civilian control over the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate “governmental alternative to Hamas.”
Gallant said Israel’s military action in Gaza must be followed by political action.
“This is primarily in the interest of the state of Israel.”
