Why It Matters:
The move could undermine the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and complicate the ongoing negotiations for peace in the region, including the high possibility of the resumption of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The Big Picture:
The proposal has overwhelmingly faced widespread condemnation from Palestinian leaders, neighboring nations, human rights organizations, and the international community. It highlighted the complexities and sensitivities of the Israeli war on Gaza and the challenges in achieving a just resolution.
State of Play:
After suffering the loss of nearly 47,000 lives in the Israeli war, the Palestinians now face another suffering. According to international law, Israel is considered an occupier.
- Security Council Resolution 242 and General Assembly Resolution 194, emphasize the need for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories, including Gaza.
- UN Reports: The UN has consistently referred to Israel's control over Gaza as an occupation, particularly in the context of military operations and the blockade that restricts movement and access to resources.
Zoom in:
Figures with the U.S. are concerned about the implications of such an exhibitionism for the U.S. national interest.
- Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): He [Trump] has totally lost it. A U.S. invasion of Gaza would lead to the slaughter of thousands of U.S. troops and decades of war in the Middle East. It’s like a bad, sick joke.
- Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA): Wait what? The U.S. is going to occupy Gaza? We were promised no more endless wars. By my count, we are occupying Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, and now… Gaza?
- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): I think most South Carolinians would probably not be excited about sending Americans to take over Gaza. It might be problematic.
- Aaron David Miller, Middle East Expert: This is the reflection of a very unserious man. He's thinking with the opportunistic sensibility of a real estate developer.
- CNN Commentator Fareed Zakaria: The U.S. will have to invade Gaza, expel Hamas, and conduct counterinsurgency operations. This is another war in the Middle East.
Zoom out:
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan's King Abdullah II have already got anxious and have strongly rejected the plan.
- Al-Sisi: Deportation or displacement of the Palestinian people is an injustice in which we cannot participate.
- Abdullah II: Jordan is for Jordanians and Palestine is for Palestinians.
Bottom Line:
It seems that the proposal, as the U.S. experts say, undermines longstanding U.S. foreign policy, which supports a two-state solution and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. It could have implications for regional stability and U.S. foreign relations.
Mohammad Kazemi
