What Netanyahu Has Planned for the Gaza Strip
A demilitarized area with a buffer zone towards Israel, a civilian administration without terrorist connections: Prime Minister Netanyahu has apparently presented a plan for Gaza after the war. According to Israeli media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has outlined a plan describing the future of the Gaza Strip – as well as reiterating the goals of the Gaza war: the destruction of the military capabilities and administrative structures of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the return of hostages. The document states that there should be no more threats emanating from the Gaza Strip.
Preparations are apparently underway
According to Netanyahu’s vision, Israel must therefore maintain “operational freedom” in the Gaza Strip even after the war. This may also involve the future deployment of Israeli soldiers in Gaza. There is talk of a “security zone” in the Gaza Strip on the border with Israel.
Reports indicate that Israeli units have been working for weeks to establish a buffer zone about a kilometer wide and systematically demolish buildings in this area. Furthermore, aerial images show the construction of roads that could provide easy access to the territory for the Israeli military even after the war.
Control over the entire area
Regarding the southern border with Egypt, it is said that it should be secured in cooperation with Egypt and with the assistance of the USA to prevent smuggling into the Gaza Strip – such as weapons. After the war, the Gaza Strip is supposed to become a “demilitarized” area, and Israel should have the mandate to ensure this.
The document reiterates an old demand of Netanyahu: Israel must retain security control over the entire area west of the Jordan River. This includes not only the Gaza Strip but also the illegally occupied West Bank.
The Role of UNRWA
The financing of terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip is supposed to be prevented in the future. Israel will also work to close the relief agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and transfer its responsibilities to other international humanitarian organizations.
Israel had presented documents that were intended to prove that UNRWA staff had participated in the terrorist attack on October 7. The UN organization had already faced criticism before the attack by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Israel is fundamentally opposed to the UNRWA’s mission and sees the organization’s work as perpetuating the Palestinian refugee problem.
However, the status of nearly six million Palestinians in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon has been unresolved for decades. According to its own statements, UNRWA had taken action against individual employees in the Gaza Strip and decisively rejected the accusation of supporting terrorism.
Direct Negotiations without Preconditions
On a civil level, the document envisions administration by representatives from the Gaza Strip with experience in this area. However, a precondition is the deradicalization of the population with the assistance of Arab states. The reconstruction of the area can only begin once this process has been initiated and the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip have been dismantled.
According to Netanyahu’s vision, the reconstruction should be financed and carried out by states that are “acceptable to Israel.” The paper once again emphasizes that a solution with the Palestinians can only be achieved through direct negotiations without preconditions – steps taken by other states, such as the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, are categorically rejected.
Compromise on One Hand
In the plan now apparently presented, Netanyahu is addressing a demand from the military leadership in Israel, as well as from several states: Israeli security circles had repeatedly stated that without such a plan, the military successes of the Israeli forces could be jeopardized, for example, if Hamas reclaims control in areas where troops have already been withdrawn.
And states such as the USA and Germany had always demanded a perspective for the people in the Gaza Strip and a plan for reconstruction.
Contrasts on the other hand
However, some of the points in the document are in stark contrast to external perspectives: For example, the USA suggests transferring the administration of the Gaza Strip to a newly established Palestinian Authority.
Arab states have linked their commitment to reconstruction to a concrete vision of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian leadership under Mahmoud Abbas rejects any arrangement that disregards the voices of the Palestinians.
The paper presented by Prime Minister Netanyahu does not take these objections into account, or explicitly opposes them.
