The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, revealed last night for the first time, and after four and a half months of war in Gaza, his plan for ‘the day after’ the conflict, in which he detailed a demilitarized Strip, whose security will depend on Israel and where UNRWA does not exist. The plan has been flatly rejected by the Palestinian presidency, which has stated that it will not accept a Gaza Strip that is not part of an independent Palestine with a “capital in east Jerusalem.”
In a document, presented Thursday night to the war cabinet for approval and published today by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu recalled the short-term objectives: destroying the military capabilities and government infrastructure of both Hamas and Jihad. Islamic, free the hostages and prevent Gaza from being a threat again.
In the medium term, the president announced a Strip where Israel will maintain freedom of military operations “without a time limit”, with a security perimeter on the divide and Israeli control of the border between Gaza and Egypt to prevent the reappearance of “elements terrorists in the Gaza Strip.
“The ‘South Fence’ will operate, to the extent possible, in cooperation with Egypt and with the assistance of the United States, and will rely on measures to prevent smuggling from Egypt, both underground and by air, including the Rafah crossing “, details the document.
Also, Israel says it will maintain security control over the West Bank and Gaza, while in the enclave “there will be complete demilitarization,” beyond what is necessary to maintain public order.
Regarding civil administration and public order, they would be regulated by local officials with administrative experience far from “countries or entities that support terrorism and will not receive payment from them,” says the document, which announces a “comprehensive program” of what called deradicalization of religious and educational institutions in the enclave, with the help of other Arab countries.
In the long term, Netanyahu insisted on the rejection of a Palestinian state or “international dictates of a permanent agreement” and foresaw the end of the UN Refugee Agency (UNRWA), “whose agents were involved in the massacre of the October 7,” the text repeats, despite the lack of conclusive evidence since Israel launched this accusation against a group of them at the end of January.
“Israel will work to stop UNRWA activities in the Gaza Strip and replace them with responsible international aid agencies,” the plan details.
The Palestinian Presidency, led by Mahmoud Abbas, assured today after learning of the Israeli government’s plans that “Gaza will only be part of the independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital,” Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Abbas, said in a statement.
“Any contrary plan is destined to fail,” warns the text, which denounces that Netanyahu’s plan aims to “perpetuate the Israeli occupation” of the territories and “prevent the establishment of a Palestinian State,” which , he said, will only bring new violence and instability to the region.
For its part, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates criticized Netanyahu’s plan as a ploy to prolong the “genocidal” war and keep himself in power.
It is “an official recognition of the reoccupation of the Gaza Strip and the imposition of Israeli control over it,” the statement said, adding that it also seeks to obstruct US and international efforts to release prisoners and hostages, the resolution of the conflict and the incarnation of a Palestinian State.
