The draft document prepared by the Israeli Ministry of Intelligence presents a proposal to relocate the population of Gaza to tent cities in northern Sinai, which is interpreted as a first indication of a possible exit strategy to the war by the political leadership, reports Israeli media.
According to the daily newspaper Haaretz, among the many proposals in the new document, it is suggested that Israel could initially relocate the population of the Gaza Strip to tent cities, followed later by the establishment of permanent communities in northern Sinai.
“The document presents two additional alternatives for the future of the Gaza Strip that do not involve population resettlement. One would allow the Palestinian Authority, which has partial control over the West Bank and was driven out of Gaza by Hamas in 2007, to control Gaza with the remaining current residents. Another option would be for Israel to establish a ‘local Arab government’ by Gazans who remain in their homes after the fall of the Hamas regime,” Haaretz writes, citing sources.
As previously reported, the settlement option for Gazans in northern Sinai includes a buffer zone of several kilometers that would prevent Gazans from approaching the Israeli border.
The Ministry confirmed the existence of the document, but a source familiar with its draft said that the Government is not expected to discuss the proposal and that the Ministry of Intelligence is not the government body that would be responsible for making such decisions.
“Sources in the ministry downplayed the importance of the document. But it is initial evidence that Israeli government officials are examining exit strategies once Israel’s goal of ending Hamas rule in Gaza is achieved. The document admits that the resettlement of the Gaza population would not gain international legitimacy, but claims that it would reduce the number of casualties among the Gaza population,” the Israeli media reported.
Namely, according to reports from foreign agencies, more than 1.4 million people across Gaza have left their homes, almost half of them settled in United Nations (UN) shelters, after repeated warnings from the Israeli army that they will be in danger if they stay in northern Gaza.
In response to this document, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that it is an “initial document” that can be repeated at various levels of government and security services.
“The issue of ‘the day after’ has not been discussed in any official forum in Israel, which is now focused on eliminating Hamas’ military and governmental capabilities,” the response states, Haaretz states.
E.Dz.
