How Netanyahu's Gaza plan is flawed and may further push violence

The silver lining in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that has run into the fifth month is the resumption of negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The international community is pressurising Israel to stop the bombardment and not to go in for a ground operation in Rafah, the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip. Earlier Israel right wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had rejected the Hamas proposal for cease fire dubbing it as ‘delusional’. Netanyahu strongly feels that total victory in Gaza was possible within months. The humanitarian crisis is fast getting converted into a catastrophe despite South Africa suing Israel for the war crimes in Gaza in the International Court of Justice, Hague. Prime Minister Netanyahu has also presented, a plan for the administration of Gaza after the war, to his war cabinet.

In the ongoing war since 7 October, 2023, as per the UN figures from open sources, nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and 70,000 have been wounded so far. In addition, 156 UN workers from UNRWA and 14 Palestinian Red Cross volunteers have been killed while providing succour to the wounded, homeless and helpless innocent Palestinian civilians including women, children and old age people. As compared to these figures, the casualties in the conventional Arab-Israel wars stand dwarfed. Israeli air strikes and bombardments in Rafah have killed on killed 67 civilians on 12 February and injured many more to rescue two hostages. As per the Israeli sources, 134 Israeli and foreign nationals are still being held captive.

On 11 February and subsequent days, US President Joe Biden urged Prime Minister Netanyahu not to proceed with the military operation in Rafah without ensuring the safety of the 2.2 million population of the Gaza Strip cooped up in Rafah City and the surrounding area. UN has also reported that a meeting was held between Iran’s foreign minister and senior Lebanese government officials in Beirut on 10 February to minimise the possibility of expansion of the conflict. It has been reliably reported that three-quarters of the population of Gaza amounting to 1.75 million have been displaced; some of them more than once and are in and around Rafah Governate.

Regional and extra-regional pressure is on for Israel not to carry out a ground offensive in Rafah. Egypt has threatened to suspend the Camp David Accords going back to 1978-79. Jordan, Lebanon and Oman warn of dangerous repercussions. However, Israeli air strikes continued and resulted in killing at the time when phase one of peace talks between Egyptians, Qatari and Hamas leaders was concluded in Cairo and representatives of the US, Israel, Egypt and Qatar were meeting in Paris in the successive second phase. Drone strikes and sniper firing are continuing in Khan Younis. According to the United Nations, the 2.4 million population faces famine and health issues. Despite nearly 30,000 deaths of Palestinians and three times wounded civilians, only about forty per cent of Hamas cadres have been neutralised so far.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has unveiled his proposal to the security cabinet for post-war Gaza, which aims to rid the territory of Hamas. The proposal envisages Israel exercising security control over Gaza on the lines existing in the West Bank. As the medium-term goal, Israel would aim at achieving demilitarisation and de-radicalisation of Gaza as a precursor to the rehabilitation of the Strip. The prime minister has also proposed to have an Israeli presence on the Southern border with Egypt including the Rafah crossing to prevent smuggling. Gaza would be administered by a civil government and the IDF would retain the indefinite freedom to operate in the entire Strip. Netanyahu suggested shutting off UNRWA and replacing it with other international aid organisations.

Netanyahu’s recommendations have given a death nail to the two-nation solution. The US and its European Allies are steadfast in having the two-nation solution for lasting peace. The end of the war seems to be in sight but the Abbas administration has rejected the Netanyahu proposal. Israel may have defanged Hamas but has failed to achieve its aim to eradicate Hamas from Gaza. The existing security paradigm in the West Bank considers the sensitivities of the Israeli settlers but treats the Palestinians, the legitimate residents of the region as second-grade citizens. The Palestinians are subjected to screening at numerous check posts and are treated like sub-humans at times.

For lasting peace in the region, a change in government in Israel is a prerequisite. Netanyahu’s right-wing government needs to be replaced by a more centric government ably led by a balanced leader like Benny Gantz. Dissatisfaction and trust deficit will continue to grow between the two communities for a long time to come unless sincere efforts for an inclusive one-nation solution are attained. UNRWA has been a beacon of hope for Palestinians and has ensured quality education and health services for the internally displaced community. The international community and the United Nations should oppose Israel and not allow it to dissolve this excellent altruistic organisation. Thankfully, the plan submitted by the PM does not include settlements of Israeli Jews to come up in Gaza as was prevalent before 2005. The plan caters adequately for the internal security of Israel but continues the miseries and injustice that Palestinians are subjected to.

One only hopes that terrorism does not return to the region under a different name and flag in years to come. The final resolution of the problem lies in a two-nation solution or equal rights for Palestinians in a single state of Israel. The Palestinian leaders also have to denounce terrorism and look for a pragmatic win-win situation on not aiming at the destruction of Israel. The spirit of reconciliation started by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat after the Oslo Accords of 1993 needs to be carried forward. Unfortunately, neither side presently has leaders of great vision who can usher in lasting peace in the region.

The author was Head of the Mission and Force Commander of UN Peacekeeping Mission (UNDOF) between Israel and Syria at Golan Heights from 2012 to 2014. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.

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