What’s happening:

Amid ongoing conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commands a focus on the present war with Hamas, delaying conversations about Gaza’s future until after a presumed victory. In contrast, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), through military spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari, signals the necessity of looking forward post-conflict.

Why it matters:

The divergence in approaches could highlight a rare instance of public disagreement between the Israeli military establishment and the political leadership. It underlines the complexity of conflict resolution and the challenges Israel faces in setting long-term strategies for peace and security in the region.

Netanyahu’s Comments:

Prime Minister Netanyahu underlines a “wait and see” directive, emphasizing Israel’s control over the future of the Gaza Strip and suggesting demilitarization as a non-negotiable outcome.

IDF Perspective:

Contrarily, the IDF spokesperson expresses an immediate need for the military to consider the next steps in Gaza, which implies a proactive planning process irrespective of the ongoing hostilities.

Other voices:

Adding to the discourse, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggests a controversial strategy aimed at reducing the Arab population in Gaza through emigration incentives. This perspective aligns with a vision where a smaller Arab populace would ostensibly shift the post-war discussion dramatically.

Bottom line:

As Israel grapples with the unfolding events in the Gaza conflict, the internal debate about the ‘day after’ underscores a broader strategic tension within the country’s leadership about how to ensure long-term security while managing the humanitarian and political implications of their actions.

This story was first published on jpost.com.