The Warning Was Heard Already at the Start of the War: Hamas Controls Gazans, Conducts Diplomatic Contacts, and Organizes for Elections
The IDF eliminated senior officials, dismantled battalions, and destroyed infrastructure, but the government did not plan anything for the day after - and failed to present an effective governing alternative. In 2024, Gallant warned that…
Assessment
The warning from Defense Minister Gallant in 2024 has proven prescient. Israel's military campaign killed commanders and destroyed battalions, but without a political plan for the day after, Hamas's governance structures survived. Now Hamas mechanisms still operate, the U.S. is talking to its leadership, and Israeli actions are accused of entrenching Hamas in power. The core strategic failure was never about military capability, but about the absence of a viable alternative governing body for Gaza.