Netanyahu announces controversial roadmap to redefine Gaza

Netanyahu’s post-war Gaza strategy includes strict border control, educational reform, and a shift in civil governance amid international scrutiny

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has unveiled his plan for Gaza’s post-Hamas future, proposing a complete demilitarization of the enclave and major changes to its civil administration and education systems.

The plan was presented to Israel’s security cabinet and includes proposals for Israel to take control of Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, previously managed by Egypt through the Rafah crossing.

Netanyahu’s proposal aims to cooperate with Egypt in coordination with the United States, though it’s unclear if all parties involved have agreed upon these elements. Notably, the plan asserts Israel’s security control over the entire area west of Jordan, encompassing the West Bank and Israel, as well as Gaza.

On the civil level, Netanyahu envisions an overhaul of Gaza’s civil administration and education systems, including cutting off funding from Qatar to Gaza, a move previously approved by a previous Netanyahu government. The plan stipulates that local entities running the civil service will not be associated with countries or entities supporting terrorism. This could potentially include the Palestinian Authority, although this is not explicitly stated.

Netanyahu’s vision also includes the closure of UNRWA, the main United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees in Gaza, amidst accusations of involvement by some UNRWA employees in Hamas attacks.

The plan reiterates Israel’s stance against being forced by the international community to recognize a Palestinian state, with Netanyahu asserting that recognition now would be a reward for terrorism.

However, many aspects of Netanyahu’s plan face opposition. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has rejected the idea of a buffer zone, Egypt has disapproved of Israel controlling its border with Gaza, and the United Arab Emirates has expressed that without a roadmap toward an independent Palestinian State, they will not contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction.

In a separate document titled ‘The Day After Hamas,’ Netanyahu emphasizes the installation of ‘local officials’ unaffiliated with terrorism to administer services in Gaza. This document, presented to the security cabinet, does not explicitly name the Palestinian Authority or rule out its participation in Gaza’s governance. The plan calls for the IDF to maintain freedom of operation in Gaza to prevent terror activity and envisions a security buffer zone on the Palestinian side of Gaza’s border.

Netanyahu’s document also includes proposals for a ‘southern closure’ on the Egyptian-Gaza border to prevent smuggling and the establishment of a ‘de-radicalization plan”‘in religious, educational, and welfare institutions in Gaza, potentially with the involvement of Arab countries experienced in de-radicalization.

During a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Buenos Aires, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken firmly opposed the plan presented by Netanyahu. Blinken emphasized Washington’s stance against any Israeli reoccupation of Gaza and the reduction of its size.

His remarks directly addressed Netanyahu’s proposal, which grants the Israeli army ‘indefinite freedom’ to operate in Gaza. “Gaza cannot be a platform for terrorism,” Blinken stated, stressing the US’s commitment to maintaining the current territorial integrity of the Gaza Strip and opposing measures that could escalate tensions.

Critics and analysts have also expressed skepticism about some aspects of Netanyahu’s plan, particularly the feasibility of implementing certain proposals and the potential backlash from key stakeholders and the international community.

Source: Newsroom