Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel is “assessing a governing alternative” to Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the bombardment of the Palestinian fighter group ends, AFP reports.

“While we conduct our important military actions, the defence establishment is simultaneously assessing a governing alternative to Hamas,” Gallant said according to a statement from his office.

Meeting troops near the Gaza border, the minister described a “framework” that includes “isolating areas” of Gaza and clearing them of Hamas fighters, “and bringing in other forces that will enable the formation of a governing alternative”.

Gallant said that “the military operation on one hand and creating the potential for a governing alternative on the other will enable us to achieve two of the goals of this war: the removal of Hamas as a governing and military authority in Gaza, and the return of the hostages.”

“We will not accept the rule of Hamas in Gaza at any stage in any process aimed at ending the war,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to Gallant, the military operation in Rafah, launched in early May, was “progressing above and below the ground”.