“Control Over Gaza Must Remain in Palestinian Hands”
An interview with former Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General (res.) Matan Vilnai, who offers insights regarding a population of which 80% supports Hamas
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 08/11/2023
Since October 7th, 2023, when Hamas massacred Gaza envelope communities in Southern Israel, the IDF has been at war against the terror organization. The government defined its objective as the destruction of Hamas.
However, in a conversation with General (Ret.) Matan Vilnai, it becomes clear that there is a need to clarify the true meaning of this objective.
"'Destroying Hamas is a very general term,” says Vilnai. “Hamas is an ideological idea. Even if we eliminate its entire military wing in Gaza, the idea will remain in the hearts of the people. In Gaza, at least 80 percent of the population are Hamas supporters.
"However, it is necessary to deny Hamas the ability to control Gaza, including its political apparatus. To target all individuals responsible for the massacre in the Gaza Envelope. To dismantle its military capabilities, including military installations, weapons manufacturing facilities, and so on.
What will happen the day after?
“This is the main question. Who will control Gaza after the war? In the immediate future, in the coming weeks, the IDF will need to exercise military governance over Gaza in some form. We are currently operating in the northern part up to the Gaza River. There is a very large southern part that also needs to be cleared of Hamas presence," Vilnai explains.
'This will be a tough battle that may extend for several weeks, and to enable it, the IDF will need to control Gaza. Immediately upon completing the mission, IDF forces will need to withdraw from Gaza and transfer control to the Palestinians. In the long term, the Palestinians will need to govern there. The most practical alternative is to transfer this territory to Palestinian authority.
“However, the Palestinian Authority is expected to demand concessions from Israel in the West Bank. The alternative proposed by some elements on the political right, Jewish settlement in the northern part of Gaza, is a scenario that doesn't align with Israel's security interests. We have nothing to do there.
“As the chairman of a body of Commanders for Israel’s Security, a non-partisan movement that comprises 500 senior former members from the nation’s entire security establishment, I can say that this is the sentiment shared by all of us. A long-term occupation of northern Gaza would run counter to Israel's interests.
Matan Vilnai at the Knesset, 2010. Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom, GPO
How can we guarantee that there won’t be any more rocket attacks from Gaza?
"The Palestinian Authority sees Hamas as an enemy, no less than we do. Just like they do in the West Bank, they will fight against Hamas in Gaza. In the long term, we need to reach a coexistence with the Palestinians. From a historical perspective, it's a condition for our own existence here,” Vilnai says.
“Israel’s recent governments strengthened Hamas and weakened the Palestinian Authority. We saw the results. Of course, the condition for such coexistence is the end of terrorism and rocket attacks."
Let’s talk geopolitics. What is your opinion concerning China’s reaction to the October 7th Hamas massacre?
“The Chinese let us down with their clear pro-Palestinian stance,” explains Vilnai, once Israel’s ambassador to China. “The Chinese ignored the massacre in the Gaza-envelope communities. Now, they’re trying to fix the situation. If interested, the Chinese could maybe act as mediators. But for that to happen, they must acknowledge the Hamas massacre and be more balanced in favor of Israel.
"In the long run, Israel cannot ignore China; it is an emerging power. It will be necessary to find an economic way to collaborate with Beijing without compromising Israeli interests. And yes, it is important to understand who we are dealing with.” emphasizes.
And what about the US?
"The Americans, according to what has been published, are talking about reducing the Israeli air activity in Gaza due to pressure exerted on them. This means that we have at most a few weeks at most to conclude the fighting in Gaza. The US has provided us with significant security assistance in the past month, and we are lucky that Biden is in power. He is a true friend of Israel," Vilnai states.
Let’s end with Israel’s internal politics. What will happen here the day after?
“I don’t want to get into this. The only thing I will say is that it is unlikely that a government that failed so badly on October 7th will remain in power,” Vilnai concludes.
Major General (res.) Matan Vilnai is a former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, who also served as parliamentarian, minister, and ambassador. He currently chairs Commanders for Israel’s Security, a non-partisan moment of retired senior members of Israel’s defense establishment (IDF, Shin Bet, Mossad, Police) that promotes separation from the Palestinians into two states, in a regional outline.
An interview with former Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General (res.) Matan Vilnai, who offers insights regarding a population of which 80% supports Hamas
Since October 7th, 2023, when Hamas massacred Gaza envelope communities in Southern Israel, the IDF has been at war against the terror organization. The government defined its objective as the destruction of Hamas.
However, in a conversation with General (Ret.) Matan Vilnai, it becomes clear that there is a need to clarify the true meaning of this objective.
"'Destroying Hamas is a very general term,” says Vilnai. “Hamas is an ideological idea. Even if we eliminate its entire military wing in Gaza, the idea will remain in the hearts of the people. In Gaza, at least 80 percent of the population are Hamas supporters.
"However, it is necessary to deny Hamas the ability to control Gaza, including its political apparatus. To target all individuals responsible for the massacre in the Gaza Envelope. To dismantle its military capabilities, including military installations, weapons manufacturing facilities, and so on.
What will happen the day after?
“This is the main question. Who will control Gaza after the war? In the immediate future, in the coming weeks, the IDF will need to exercise military governance over Gaza in some form. We are currently operating in the northern part up to the Gaza River. There is a very large southern part that also needs to be cleared of Hamas presence," Vilnai explains.
'This will be a tough battle that may extend for several weeks, and to enable it, the IDF will need to control Gaza. Immediately upon completing the mission, IDF forces will need to withdraw from Gaza and transfer control to the Palestinians. In the long term, the Palestinians will need to govern there. The most practical alternative is to transfer this territory to Palestinian authority.
“However, the Palestinian Authority is expected to demand concessions from Israel in the West Bank. The alternative proposed by some elements on the political right, Jewish settlement in the northern part of Gaza, is a scenario that doesn't align with Israel's security interests. We have nothing to do there.
“As the chairman of a body of Commanders for Israel’s Security, a non-partisan movement that comprises 500 senior former members from the nation’s entire security establishment, I can say that this is the sentiment shared by all of us. A long-term occupation of northern Gaza would run counter to Israel's interests.
Matan Vilnai at the Knesset, 2010. Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom, GPO
How can we guarantee that there won’t be any more rocket attacks from Gaza?
"The Palestinian Authority sees Hamas as an enemy, no less than we do. Just like they do in the West Bank, they will fight against Hamas in Gaza. In the long term, we need to reach a coexistence with the Palestinians. From a historical perspective, it's a condition for our own existence here,” Vilnai says.
“Israel’s recent governments strengthened Hamas and weakened the Palestinian Authority. We saw the results. Of course, the condition for such coexistence is the end of terrorism and rocket attacks."
Let’s talk geopolitics. What is your opinion concerning China’s reaction to the October 7th Hamas massacre?
“The Chinese let us down with their clear pro-Palestinian stance,” explains Vilnai, once Israel’s ambassador to China. “The Chinese ignored the massacre in the Gaza-envelope communities. Now, they’re trying to fix the situation. If interested, the Chinese could maybe act as mediators. But for that to happen, they must acknowledge the Hamas massacre and be more balanced in favor of Israel.
"In the long run, Israel cannot ignore China; it is an emerging power. It will be necessary to find an economic way to collaborate with Beijing without compromising Israeli interests. And yes, it is important to understand who we are dealing with.” emphasizes.
And what about the US?
"The Americans, according to what has been published, are talking about reducing the Israeli air activity in Gaza due to pressure exerted on them. This means that we have at most a few weeks at most to conclude the fighting in Gaza. The US has provided us with significant security assistance in the past month, and we are lucky that Biden is in power. He is a true friend of Israel," Vilnai states.
Let’s end with Israel’s internal politics. What will happen here the day after?
“I don’t want to get into this. The only thing I will say is that it is unlikely that a government that failed so badly on October 7th will remain in power,” Vilnai concludes.
Major General (res.) Matan Vilnai is a former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, who also served as parliamentarian, minister, and ambassador. He currently chairs Commanders for Israel’s Security, a non-partisan moment of retired senior members of Israel’s defense establishment (IDF, Shin Bet, Mossad, Police) that promotes separation from the Palestinians into two states, in a regional outline.
