Nournews: The Biden administration’s plan for managing the Gaza Strip post war, unveiled by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, explicitly seeks to diminish Hamas’s influence while empowering the Palestinian Authority. The responsibility of the initiative, which also focuses on rebuilding Gaza’s damaged infrastructure, has been handed over to Trump’s administration. Parts of the plan emphasizes the important role of international cooperation for managing Gaza post war. However, it remains unclear how the incoming Trump administration, with its distinct policy approaches, will handle this plan. The proposal not only aims to weaken Hamas but also seeks to reduce regional threats to Israel and shift the balance of power in Gaza.
Deployment of Joint Security Forces to Contain Hamas
The proposal includes the establishment of a temporary security force comprising international and Palestinian personnel. This force will be tasked with ensuring security, preventing Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities, and facilitating the transfer of governance to the Palestinian Authority. Its primary goal is to curb Hamas’s influence and diminish its military and political presence in Gaza. These forces could also play a pivotal role in facilitating Gaza’s reconstruction and ensuring the enforcement of a ceasefire.
Strengthening the Palestinian Authority
A central element of this plan involves transferring governance of Gaza from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority, which is based in the West Bank. The Biden administration emphasizes the need for unity between the West Bank and Gaza and calls on Israel to recognize this unity. However, this initiative overlooks the lack of Palestinian public support for the Palestinian Authority, the deep divisions between Fatah and Hamas, and the external political and economic pressures that pose significant obstacles to its implementation.
Reconstruction and Socioeconomic Transformation
The Biden administration views Gaza’s reconstruction as a tool to weaken Hamas’s influence. This rebuilding effort, supported by Arab countries, the United Nations, and international donor conferences, is designed to increase pressure on Hamas while improving living conditions for Gaza’s residents. Mechanisms for rebuilding infrastructure and meeting basic needs are structured to undermine Hamas’s standing among Palestinians. Key Arab nations, particularly those with close ties to the U.S., are expected to play a crucial role in achieving this goal. The potential deployment of Arab forces in Gaza is also under consideration as a security and social solution.
Challenges and the Future of Biden’s Plan
Despite its ambitious goals, the success of this plan depends on various factors. On one hand, the Trump administration’s unilateral policy tendencies may delay or deprioritize the initiative. On the other hand, Israel, which prioritizes its security, might resist substantial changes in Gaza’s status quo. Moreover, serious internal divisions between Palestinian factions, including the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, remain key obstacles to successful implementation.
As the Biden administration prepares to transfer power to Trump, the unclear international support for the plan further complicates its prospects.
Additionally, achieving the plan’s objectives requires significant shifts in domestic and regional policies and coordination among key players—an outcome that seems unlikely under current conditions.
The success or failure of the Biden administration’s plan for post-war Gaza management will largely depend on how the Trump administration addresses the proposal, as well as the responses of Israel and Palestinian factions, particularly concerning unity between the West Bank and Gaza and the transfer of power from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority.
Furthermore, the broader regional context of West Asia, including the role of Arab nations and the international community in funding Gaza’s reconstruction and ensuring long-term stability, as well as alignment among major stakeholders, will be critical to the plan’s success.
NOURNEWS