Israel trials post-war ‘humanitarian’ zones

ISRAEL is looking for Palestinians to run “humanitarian pockets” in Gaza, where Hamas is no longer present as part of a test run for the territory’s postwar future.

“We’re looking for the right people to step up to the plate. But it is clear that this will take time, as no one will come forward if they think Hamas will put a bullet in their head,” a senior Israeli official told Reuters.

The “right” people are those not affiliated with Hamas or the recent violence in any way, or anybody on the payroll of the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, according to Reuters.

“Anyone who took part in, or even failed to condemn, Oct 7 is ruled out,” the official added. A local Israeli TV channel reported that talks were underway with unnamed people in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City.

Local merchants and civil society leaders would distribute humanitarian aid while the Israeli military would provide peripheral security in Zeitoun, Channel 12 claimed.

Channel 12 said the plan also included an overhaul of school educational material, which Israel has long claimed incites hatred against Israel and Jews, as part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to “deradicalise” Gaza.

Hamas pushed back on the reported plans, telling Reuters that it would be tantamount to Israel resettling Gaza, which it left in 2005.

“We are confident this project is pointless and is a sign of confusion and it will never succeed,” Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, said.

It is the most detailed proposal so far about how Israel sees Gaza being run once the current round of fighting is over. The United States has called for a “revitalised” Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Gaza after the war. But Mr Netanyahu has ruled out letting the PA take control of Gaza, insisting that Israel maintain security control with all territory west of the Jordan river.

Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, presented his plan for Gaza last month, stressing that Israel will not be in control of civil matters and will not resettle the enclave.

However, Itamar Ben-gvir, the national security minister, and Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, both of whom represent far-right parties in the government, have called on Israel to reoccupy Gaza and encourage the emigration of Palestinians.

Wasel Abu Yousef, a senior official with the umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation, of which the PA is part, also appeared dismissive of the Israeli plan yesterday. “All of Israel’s attempts to change the geographic and demographic features of Gaza will not succeed,” he told Reuters.

‘We are confident this project is pointless and is a sign of confusion and it will never succeed’