Netanyahu, after defence chief's dissent, demands 'no excuses' in war on Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that any move to establish an alternative to Hamas as the government of Gaza required that the Palestinian Islamist group first be eliminated, and demanded this goal be pursued "without excuses".

His remarks, in a video statement posted online, followed a public challenge by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who accused the government of having avoided a serious discussion of a proposal for a non-Hamas post-war Palestinian administration. (Writing by Dan Williams)