Israel plans post-war Gaza buffer zone: Reuters

Israel has informed several countries about its intentions to create a buffer zone, including:

• Egypt;
• Jordan;
• the United Arab Emirates (UAE);
• Saudi Arabia;
• and notably, Türkiye.

This move, as reported by the publication, suggests a broader approach by Tel Aviv beyond recognized Arab mediators like Egypt or Qatar in shaping Gaza's post-war structure.

According to a senior regional security official, Israel aims to establish a north-to-south buffer zone between Gaza and Israel to prevent potential attacks from Hamas or other militants.

"Israel wants this buffer zone between Gaza and Israel from the north to the south to prevent any Hamas or other militants from infiltrating or attacking Israel," said a senior regional security official.

UAE's stance:

The UAE representative did not directly confirm being informed about the buffer zone plan but emphasized, that his country "will support any future post-war arrangements agreed upon by all the concerned parties" to achieve stability and establish a Palestinian state.

Israel's perspective:

Ophir Falk, foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister, outlined a three-level plan based on the destruction of Hamas, the demilitarization of Gaza, and the deradicalization of the enclave.

"A buffer zone may be part of the demilitarisation process," he said.

Meanwhile, Arab countries called Israel's intentions to destroy Hamas impossible.

Creating a buffer zone

While Israel had previously floated the idea of a buffer zone within Gaza, today it is officially proposing this plan to Arab countries as a security measure for the enclave. Israeli troops withdrew from the enclave in 2005.

An American official confirmed that Israel has indeed shared the idea of creating a buffer zone, though specifics on the recipients were not disclosed. Simultaneously, the official highlighted the White House's opposition to any plan that diminishes the size of Palestinian territory.

Squeezing the Palestinians

"Jordan, Egypt and other Arab states have voiced fears that Israel wants to squeeze Palestinians out of Gaza, repeating the dispossession of land Palestinians suffered when Israel was created in 1948. The Israeli government denies any such aim," states Reuters.

War in Israel

On October 7, Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, targeting not only military personnel but also civilians. This assault followed a series of regular shelling incidents from the Gaza Strip to Tel Aviv. In response, Tel Aviv initiated an operation against terrorists and offensive activities in the Gaza Strip.

A temporary truce between Israel and Hamas began on November 24, initially set for four days. Efforts were made to extend the ceasefire by an additional two days, contingent on the release of more hostages by the militants.

However, on December 1, Israel resumed hostilities in the Gaza Strip, asserting that Hamas had violated the ceasefire terms. According to The Times of Israel, there are plans in Tel Aviv to globally pursue Hamas leaders in the future. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at this intention, but it has stirred controversy among those advocating for such plans to remain classified.