Israel sets conditions for ending Gaza War, plans for civilian governance
After an all-night discussion, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a proposal to expand the war on Hamas, including reoccupying the Gaza Strip, and adopting five principles for ending the war, the Prime Minister’s Office announced early Friday morning.
Israeli military forces in the northern Gaza Strip on July 13, 2025. Photo by Eytan Shalem/TPS-IL
The five principles for ending the war adopted by the ministers were the disarming of Hamas, the return of living and dead hostages, Gaza’s demilitarisation, Israeli security control over the Strip, and the establishment of “an alternative civilian government that is not Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.”
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir presented his objections, citing risks to the lives of the hostages and exhaustion of army reservists. Zamir reportedly advocated an additional encirclement of Gaza, which the ministers ultimately rejected.
“An absolute majority of Cabinet ministers believed that the alternative plan presented to the Cabinet would not achieve the defeat of Hamas or the return of the abductees,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Ahead of the meeting, Netanyahu told a delegation of Indian journalists, “Israel does not want to annex Gaza, but to transfer control of the Strip to an international governing body that is disconnected from Hamas.”
It is expected that residents of Gaza City will be evacuated southward before the army mounts a new push into areas it has not entered during 22 months of war.
Excluding the Palestinian Authority from post-war Gaza could be a sticking point with moderate Arab states, who have conditioned their involvement with Ramallah also having a role.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Australia calls on Israel to not go down this path, which will only worsen the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international law.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief Alex Ryvchin said Mr Netanyahu’s words were welcome because it would mean the defeat of Hamas, the designated terrorist organisation whose actions started the latest conflict.
“I think that the worst thing that could happen is any form of civilian return to Gaza,” he told ABC radio.
“When you have a situation where Hamas refuses to lay down its arms, refuses to release the hostages, refuses the ceasefire that’s been on the table since the end of May, it leaves no choice but to complete the job militarily.
“And that’s clearly what the prime minister is planning to do.”
Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead.
with AAP
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