What does Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan contain to manage the aftermath in the Gaza Strip?

Proposals for Gaza, after more than four months of conflict. Benyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, presented Thursday evening, February 22, to his security cabinet, a set of guidelines for managing “after Hamas” in the Gaza Strip, according to the document that Franceinfo was able to consult. If several ideas had already been explained by the head of government of the Jewish state during previous speeches, this is the first plan formally presented to the members of his war cabinet.

It is also an opportunity for Benjamin Netanyahu to confirm his red line: no reconstruction in the Palestinian enclave without “demilitarization”. He also calls for a “deradicalization” of all institutions in the area, shelled by the Israeli army since October 7 in response to deadly Hamas attacks on Israeli soil. Border management, role of the army, humanitarian cooperation… Franceinfo takes stock of how the Israeli leader wants to turn the page on the war in Gaza.

A “demilitarization” of the enclave

In his collection of proposals, Benjamin Netanyahu demands that the Gaza Strip be completely demilitarized, with the exception of weapons which are “necessary for the maintenance of public order”, details the document presented Thursday evening. Concretely, this would involve leaving a small arsenal reserved for a local police force whose composition is not explained.

While the Israeli army declares almost daily that it has destroyed weapons caches in Gaza, in addition to the supposed dismantling of 18 of the 24 Hamas battalions, Benyamin Netanyahu’s plan wants to extend these operations in the medium term. The document specifies that Israel will be responsible for monitoring the demilitarization of the enclave and ensuring that it is not violated.

An Israeli military presence

To ensure this mission, the Prime Minister wants to guarantee the “freedom of military operation” of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. Clearly, Benyamin Netanyahu believes that the IDF must be able to continue to intervene in the enclave, whether missions on the ground or in the air. According to him, this principle must apply indefinitely to the entire Gaza Strip, where more than two million people currently survive in unsanitary conditions.

Much criticized on the international scene, the head of the Israeli government maintains his hard line regarding the conduct of operations in Gaza. Faced with Hamas, he considers that “Continued military pressure is a necessary condition for the release of the hostages [israéliens]“as reported Haaretz.

A “security zone” along the border

It is no longer a secret that the Israeli army has been carrying out targeted destruction in Gaza for several weeks, with the aim of creating a “buffer”according to the UN – which describes this practice as “war crime”. Despite these accusations, Benjamin Netanyahu persists and signs. In fact, he wants to establish a “safe zone” in Gaza, all along the Israeli border, and maintain it “as long as necessary”.

Concerning territorial management, the head of government’s plan pushes for total control of the borders of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli authorities. This also includes the southern edge of the enclave, “as much as possible in cooperation with Egypt and with the help of the United States”, specifies the document. It is along this border, around the town of Rafah in particular, that more than a million people are massed, most of whom have fled the center and north of the enclave, which are almost completely devastated.

A dismantling of UNRWA

The head of the Israeli government wants to put an end to UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. For several weeks, he has assured that the largest aid provider in Gaza supported the deadly October 7 attacks perpetrated by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Israel. In detail,Twelve members of this agency are accused by the Jewish state of being involved in these massacres. While UNRWA is located “a breaking point”according to his boss Philippe Lazzarini, Benyamin Netanyahu is demanding the dismantling of his activities and the appointment of a new UN agency to take care of health, education and offer social services to the Gazan population.

A reconstruction under conditions

Finally, the head of the Israeli government declared for the first time that the “deradicalization” of the Gaza Strip is an essential condition before any reconstruction campaign. Behind this term, Benyamin Netanyahu wishes that tall religious, educational and social institutions in the Gaza Strip are scrutinized.

He also calls for public order in the Palestinian enclave to be entrusted to “professionals with management experience”. “These local officials should not be identified with states or organizations that support terrorism and should not receive salaries from them”he writes, in a clear reference to the Islamist organization Hamas, which has held power in Gaza since 2007.

Without this, the Israeli Prime Minister excludes any authorization of external aid concerning the rehabilitation of housing and infrastructure in the Palestinian territory. If these conditions were to be met, “L“Reconstruction plans will be carried out with funding and direction from countries acceptable to Israel.”, demands Benjamin Netanyahu. This plan must now receive the approval of his security cabinet, which includes seven ministers and two observers.