Israel has made it clear that it intends to eliminate Hamas in the Gaza Strip. I think this should have been done a long time ago, but better late than never. After Israel eliminates Hamas in Gaza, however, who will control the territory? Most importantly, who will ensure that the coastal enclave does not become a base for Palestinian terrorists from which they can commit more atrocities against Israelis?
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
So far, no one has offered up concrete plans on what to do with the Gaza Strip after Israel destroys Hamas. A practical plan for Gaza's future is crucial if Israel and the rest of the free world want to prevent the territory from falling into the hands of terrorists again.
It is my opinion that after Israel wipes out Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the territory should be treated as Germany was following the Allies' victory over the Nazis in World War II. After the Nazis were defeated, Germany was occupied by the forces of several Allied powers. Similarly, an international force could be set up to control the Gaza Strip. I would not recommend, however, that such a force be composed of, or even include, personnel from Western countries, because the Gazans would view Western troops as occupiers.
Instead, the international force that controls Gaza after the defeat of Hamas should be made up of personnel from Arab countries with whom Israel has diplomatic relations. Thus, the international force in Gaza could be made up of Egyptians, Jordanians, Emiratis, Moroccans, and Bahrainis. Even the Saudis could take part, if they agree to normalize relations with Israel. Gazans are a lot less likely to view fellow Arabs as occupiers than troops from Western countries, making it much easier to control the territory.
As to whether Israel can trust an international force from Arab countries to make sure that Gaza never again falls under the control of terrorists, keep in mind that Arab leaders like Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Jordan's King Abdullah II view terrorist groups like Hamas as the enemy just as much as Israel does. Nevertheless, it is imperative that Israel have the final say on how the international force can operate, what weapons it is allowed to have, and anything else that affects the Jewish state's security needs.
Once an international force is set up to police the Gaza Strip, rebuilding can commence. A program similar to the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild Germany and the rest of Europe after WWII would probably be in order. In addition, just as the Allies de-Nazified Germany after WWII, so too must Gazan society be purged of hateful, antisemitic ideology. School curriculum and media should be designed to promote coexistence with the Jewish people. Any attempt to promote hatred and antisemitism among the Gazans must be quickly crushed.
Eventually, the Gazans should be given self-governance, but it must happen gradually, under the close supervision of Israel. Israel cannot repeat the mistake it made as part of the Oslo Accords, handing over territory to the Palestinians in the hopes that they would end terrorism in favor of peaceful coexistence with the Jewish state. After all, it was that mistake that got us into the current mess in the first place.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
