Jerusalem – The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has stated that it was not consulted regarding the announced formation of the Executive Committee of the Gaza Peace Council.
A statement released by the Prime Minister’s office indicated that Foreign Minister Gideon Saar will be contacting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the formation of the Executive Committee. The core of Israel’s concern seems to stem from the inclusion of both Turkey and Qatar within the Committee’s structure.
The Gaza Peace Council, unveiled on Friday, includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali al-Dhawadi, and Egyptian Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad. Israel has consistently opposed any Turkish involvement in the Gaza Strip.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir argued that Gaza does not need an administrative committee for reconstruction, but rather a complete dismantling of Hamas and the encouragement of voluntary emigration. He urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to prepare the military for a swift return to war with the primary goal of eliminating Hamas.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett echoed similar sentiments, stating that the inclusion of Qatar and Turkey in Gaza constitutes a ‘reward to Hamas’ for the October 7th attacks and poses a significant threat to Israeli security, accusing the current government of undermining Israeli sovereignty.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that ‘the original sin is Netanyahu’s unwillingness to take responsibility for Gaza, establish military rule there, and encourage emigration and settlement,’ emphasizing that ‘countries that supported Hamas and continue to host them cannot have any foothold in Gaza.’
The formation of this committee and Israel’s reaction highlight the continued complexities and sensitivities surrounding the future governance and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
