Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said on Monday that the Palestinians will take over the rule of the Gaza Strip after the end of the war between the Hebrew state and Hamas.

Gallant added, in a press conference: “The Palestinians live in Gaza and therefore it will be governed by the Palestinians in the future.” The future government of Gaza must emerge from the Gaza Strip.”

He continued: “At the end of the war, there will be no military threat from Gaza. Hamas will not be able to rule and operate as a military force in the Gaza Strip.”

He indicated that the future government would be a “civilian alternative,” stressing at the same time that his forces would enjoy “freedom to operate” in a way aimed at protecting the Israelis.

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, is waging war with Israel after its fighters launched an attack on Israeli territory on October 7.

The attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people in Israel, according to a count by Agence France-Presse based on the latest Israeli figures.

In response, the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip killed more than 24,000 people, most of them women and children, according to the movement's Ministry of Health.