The debate over the fate of the Gaza Strip

The day after the war is the main concern of all political circles in Israel and its Western allies, but also in many Arab countries. Several scenarios are circulating on this issue, all revolving around the fact that illegitimate movements and organizations should not be allowed to play a role in the administration of the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian Authority believes that the future of the Gaza Strip should be determined by the Palestinian people and not by Israel.
Indicators suggest that there are significant differences of opinion between Israel and other concerned parties over the fate of Gaza, particularly the US and Arab countries that have ties to Gaza, such as Egypt, or because of their responsibilities as regional powers, such as the Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
It is a natural disagreement in such circumstances, because each party has its strategic priorities for the regional security and stability of the Arab parties or the security of Israel, as perceived by the Netanyahu government.
This government holds different views, ranging from remaining in Gaza and regaining security control under a technocratic government and a joint Arab civil administration to shocking demands for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.
These radical demands are unlikely to serve the interests of the Israeli people in the short or long term, not to mention the difficulty of realizing them and their negative impact on Israel’s relations with Arab countries seeking solutions based on coexistence, moderation, security and stability. Israel’s ability to build its future and gradually return to pre-October 7 conditions undoubtedly depends to a large extent on finding common ground with the moderate Arab capitals. These capitals must not be embarrassed in view of their historical responsibility to the Palestinian people.
Everyone knows how great the sympathy of the Arab and Islamic states is for the suffering of the innocent Palestinian civilians. Therefore, the perspectives of the main Arab parties such as Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Egypt and Jordan must be taken into account when preparing the scenario for the day after the war.
Any Israeli government must realize that everyone is in the same boat in this crisis and that Israel’s security is part of the overall security of the region. This can only be achieved if the views and visions of the Arab parties are taken into account in order to achieve stability.
In this way, these parties can effectively contribute to overcoming this stage as soon as possible in order to be effective and successful, not only for stability, but also for eradicating extremist ideologies and convincing the people of Gaza that turning away from these ideas and rejecting sympathy with them later.
It is undeniable that an essential part of building the future of Gaza and establishing security and stability inside and outside the Gaza Strip depends on the role of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority should not be satisfied with naysayers, rejectionists and narrow-minded assessments of proposals.
It is necessary to refrain from unrealistic slogans for the solution and to understand the data of the current phase of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in a way that meets the needs of the Palestinian people, the results of the current regional and international environment and the situation of the Palestinian factions and organizations. All this requires historical reflection, in-depth internal discussions and decisions that prioritize the interests of the Palestinian people, who are suffering in both Gaza and the West Bank and paying a high price for the chaos, divisions and political, factional and personal conflicts.
All this is not just an additional demand to achieve a secure vision for the day after the war, but a cornerstone to reach this point. There is no room for political football at the expense of all the blood spilled by impulsive decisions and reckless actions that have jeopardized the fate of the Palestinian cause for an unprecedented and long time.
To this day, neither party has a clear plan for the future of Gaza. This alone may prolong the duration of the war. We believe that the faster everyone rushes to reach agreements and understandings on the next step, the stronger the result can be as a catalyst to end the military operations and move on to politics.
Opinion polls in the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas show remarkable support for the Hamas movement. I am convinced that this support is not necessarily related to the movement’s ideology, but reflects a temporary sympathy. The crucial aspect is the rejection of the Palestinian Authority, its policies and its leadership.
Anyone who doubts this should read the results of the polls conducted by Palestinian institutions carefully, because they contain indicators that enrich much of the analysis. They all suggest that change is urgently needed and that it is crucial to prioritize the higher interests and listen to the facts.
The most important fact is that there is an urgent need for a new Palestinian leadership around which the Palestinian people can rally. The need for this fresh blood is a fundamental demand and central to any political solution, in whatever form and in whatever detail. The Palestinians themselves must hold the key to their issue.