Israeli officials and analysts said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is avoiding formulating a strategy for the aftermath of the war on Gaza, due to political matters, and for fear of the Ministers of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, according to what was reported by the Hebrew Channel 13, on the evening of Tuesday, January 16. Second 2024.

The officials, who were not named by the channel, added that “the Prime Minister’s actions and the lack of a political strategy harm the war’s achievements,” as they put it, while the channel indicated that “it is expected that the Mini Ministerial Council for Security and Political Affairs (Cabinet) will hold deliberations at the end of this week regarding the day next to the war.

It is noteworthy that the survival of the far-right "Jewish Power" party headed by Ben Gvir, and the far-right "Religious Zionism" party headed by Smotrich, is necessary for the continuation of Netanyahu's government.

"Erosion of achievements"

Channel 13 reported on Tuesday that “Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy warned the government that its refusal to develop a post-war strategy for Gaza could lead to the army being drawn into new operations in areas where fighting has already ended.”

It added: “This warning mainly concerns northern Gaza, where Hamas has once again shown some signs of governance since the IDF reduced its forces there".

According to the channel, Halevy said during the closed meeting: “We are facing an erosion of the achievements we have achieved so far in the war, because no strategy has been developed for the next day” of the war, adding: “We may have to return and work in the areas where we have already ended the fighting.” In reference to the northern Gaza Strip.

It is noteworthy that in recent weeks, Ben Gvir and Smotrich have repeatedly called for the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip and the construction of settlements there.

On Monday, the 15th of this month, the Minister of Defense of the Occupation Army, Yoav Galant, said during a press conference, referring to the course of the ground war that began on October 27, 2023, that “in the northern region of the Gaza Strip, this stage will end and in southern Gaza, we will arrive.” This achievement will be completed soon.”

The Israeli minister did not reveal whether the ground operation north of the Gaza Strip had actually achieved its goals of eliminating the Hamas movement, as the Netanyahu government claimed at the beginning of the war on Gaza.

Massive frustration in the upper ranks of the army

For his part, Amos Harel, a military analyst in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, wrote on Wednesday: “There is tremendous frustration brewing in the upper ranks of the Israeli army and the Shin Bet security service, and their fear is that Netanyahu’s political considerations are already leading to the erosion of what has been achieved.” Until now".

He added: “Netanyahu strongly refuses to say the three words that the American administration wants to hear: ‘A renewed Palestinian Authority.’ This is the renewed Palestinian Authority that Washington wants to run Gaza in the future, if Hamas’ power can be further reduced.”

Netanyahu has repeatedly announced in recent weeks his rejection of the return of the Palestinian Authority to the Gaza Strip after the war, while the United States has announced on more than one occasion during the past weeks its rejection of Israel’s reoccupation of the Gaza Strip or building settlements there.

Harel added: "But it is natural for Netanyahu to reject (the renewed Palestinian Authority), as he is under pressure from his coalition members Ben Gvir and Smotrich, and he wants to unite his right-wing base behind his claim that he is the only one capable of preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state."

He added: "It is also clear that Netanyahu wants continued friction with the US administration, assuming that he will be able to blame the Americans for the failure to achieve the war goals while waiting for Donald Trump to win the presidential elections next November."

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation army has been waging a devastating war on Gaza, which, as of Wednesday, left 24,448 dead and 61,504 injured, and caused the displacement of more than 85% (about 1.9 million people) of the Strip’s population, according to the Palestinian authorities and the United Nations.