U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will present a comprehensive plan for Gaza's post-war future at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday, according to three U.S. officials speaking to Walla. The initiative comes as international efforts continue to secure both a hostage deal and ceasefire in the region.
The proposed plan will outline an alternative to Hamas rule, incorporating both the Palestinian Authority and Arab states in Gaza's governance. Sources indicate it will establish an international oversight mechanism, potentially including Arab military forces to maintain security and facilitate humanitarian aid distribution.
Key elements of the plan include proposed reforms to the Palestinian Authority, which U.S. officials view as an essential component of Gaza's future governance structure. The State Department has already briefed Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab nations on the main points of Blinken's upcoming address.
While Israel has expressed support for Arab involvement in post-war Gaza, it has thus far resisted proposals that would give the Palestinian Authority a governing role. Blinken's blueprint, which he hopes will serve as a framework for future administrations including Trump's, follows his recent discussions with U.S. allies about Gaza's reconstruction after a ceasefire agreement.
The plan has sparked internal debate within the State Department, with some senior officials expressing concern that it might favor Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's interests while marginalizing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his administration.
During a press conference in Paris last week, Blinken indicated the plan's readiness for implementation, stating, "We're ready to hand that over to the administration so it can work on it and run with it when the opportunity is there."
The initiative builds on ideas developed by Israel and the UAE in October, when Blinken initially announced he was working on a post-war Gaza plan that would be presented after the U.S. presidential elections.
JPost contributed to this article.
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