By DEMIR KASAPOGLU
On Monday, Sept. 29, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump met at the White House to announce a peace plan to end the genocide in Gaza. The 20 point plan is aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East, with Trump stating they are, “At the very least, at a minimum very, very close,” to doing so.
This plan includes a release of Palestinian and Israeli hostages by both sides, a slow withdrawal of Israeli troops, a “deradicalization” of Gaza and a new transitional authority called the “Board of Peace.” The board would have Tony Blair, the disgraced former British prime minister who led the British part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, as its head.
Middle East Eye acquired Blair’s potential candidates for the other members of the board. The candidates include Israeli businessman and Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, Egyptian billionaire Naguid Sawiris, American CEO Marc Rowan, and Dutch politician Sigrid Kaag. It must be noted that there are no Palestinians on the board, nor have any members, with the exception of Kaag, criticized Israel’s role in the genocide.
The withdrawal of Israeli troops would happen in stages until a buffer zone is created. Israeli forces will withdraw based on their own assessment of the developing situation. A new International Stabilization Force (ISF) is to be established with troops from Arab and Muslim countries, meant to be a police force to patrol the strip.
In the first stage the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would retain control over a majority of Gaza while giving up major population centers like Gaza City and Khan Yunis. In the second phase the IDF would withdraw further after the ISF had successfully disarmed Hamas and created stability.
In the third phase the IDF will withdraw however it will maintain a “security buffer zone.” The Times of Israel reported that the purpose of the buffer zone was “aimed at mitigating the threat of another October 7-like invasion.” The buffer zone wouldn’t be exclusive to the Israeli border but the Egyptian border as well, effectively giving Israel total control of what enters and leaves the strip, including people.
The ISF is to remain as the police force in Gaza until the Palestinian Authority (PA), the legally recognized government of the state of Palestine, is deemed “reformed” enough by Israel and the Board of Peace to be given control of Gaza. The PA has had no control in Gaza since 2007 due to Hamas’ political takeover of the strip. The PA’s collaborationist stance with Israel made them unpopular in the eyes of many Palestinians in Gaza, only time will tell if the PA can establish any de facto control over the strip.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced on Friday that they were ready to negotiate over any peace deals with Israel and the United States. On the same day President Trump gave Hamas an ultimatum for Sunday. The president also released a statement on Truth Social, in which he wrote, “If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.”
With this potential end to the devastating genocide, which has claimed the lives of at least 70,000 Palestinians, in sight, the world is holding its breath to see what will happen in the near future. One thing is certain, a new age has begun for the Middle East. Israel’s international reputation is in ruins, and most governments in the globe now recognize a Palestinian state.
Featured image: Latuff Cartoons
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