JERUSALEM - Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday that he would oppose the establishment of Israel's rule in the post-war Gaza Strip.

Speaking in a televised press briefing, Gallant urged Netanyahu to make a decision and declare that Israel will not establish civilian or military control over the Gaza Strip, adding that a governing alternative to Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian resistance movement that runs the enclave, must be named by Netanyahu "immediately."

Gallant's outspoken criticism of the prime minister has drawn criticism from several cabinet members, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir

Gallant said that, soon after the beginning of the Israeli conflict with Hamas in October last year, he had tried to promote a plan for a new Palestinian administration unaffiliated with Hamas but "received no response" in cabinet meetings.

ALSO READ: Reports: Biden advancing $1b arms transfer to Israel

In response, Netanyahu said in a statement that "as long as Hamas remains, no other party will run Gaza, certainly not the Palestinian Authority." He did not address the issue of possible Israeli rule in the Palestinian enclave.

Gallant's outspoken criticism of the prime minister has drawn criticism from several cabinet members, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

But Minister-without-portfolio Benny Gantz supported Gallant, stating that the defense minister "is speaking the truth - the leadership's responsibility is to do what is right for the country, at any price."

ALSO READ: Gaza crisis set to top Arab Summit agenda

Since the Hamas deadly attack on Israeli southern communities on Oct. 7 last year, which killed about 1,200 people, Israel has been bombing and launching a ground offensive in Gaza, killing over 35,000 people and displacing most of the 2.3 million population in the Palestinian enclave so far.