Blinken to present post-war plan for Gaza on Tuesday: Axios
4 Min Read
Blinken's plan reportedly aims to provide a roadmap for "post-Hamas governance in Gaza."
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, February 7, 2024. (AP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to reveal a detailed plan for Gaza's governance and reconstruction after the Israeli war in a speech at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday, according to Axios citing three US officials.
Blinken's plan aims to provide a roadmap for "post-Hamas governance in Gaza," which is essential for implementing the second phase of a broader Gaza agreement that seeks a permanent ceasefire and the war's conclusion, according to the report.
President-elect Donald Trump expressed optimism about ongoing "Israel"-Gaza negotiations, telling Newsmax that a deal is "very close", potentially finalized by the end of the week.
It is worth noting that Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, is involved in the talks in Doha.
"If they don't get it done, there's going to be a lot of trouble out there," Trump said. "A lot of trouble like they've never seen before."
"This would have never happened if I was president," Trump further claimed. "Iran didn't have the money to give them [Hamas]. Iran didn't have the money to give them. Iran was broke, essentially."
Meanwhile, i24, citing a source familiar with the details, indicated that Trump promised Netanyahu and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, who is close to the Republican Party, that if they agreed to a ceasefire and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, he would support "Israel" after later on if it decided to resume the war.
The Israeli website pointed out that "Trump's offer may solve one problem for Netanyahu, but it does not solve it completely, because this is not enough to reassure members of his ruling coalition, from the extreme right, nationalists, and settlers, who may see this as an unacceptable concession to Hamas.
On his part, Blinken said at a Paris press conference, "We are ready to hand that over to the Trump administration so it can work on it and run with it when the opportunity arises."
The US Secretary of State's proposal has sparked significant debate within the State Department. Concerns have arisen about the plan’s alignment with Israeli interests and its perceived sidelining of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and President Mahmoud Abbas.
Driving the news
Blinken has been working on this plan since October, with input from "Israel", the United Arab Emirates, and other partners, the report added.
Jamie Rubin, a close advisor, was tasked with this initiative's lead and has engaged with Israeli and Palestinian officials. While the PA voiced strong reservations, citing a lack of support for the proposal, Blinken’s team briefed the Israeli government, Arab nations, and other international stakeholders.
The big picture
Blinken's plan reportedly focuses on establishing "a governing mechanism" for Gaza, supported by the international community and Arab countries, which may deploy troops to "stabilize security and deliver humanitarian aid."
It also includes proposed reforms within the Palestinian Authority to ensure its role in any future governance structure for Gaza, while opposing any permanent Israeli occupation, territorial reduction, or forced transfer of Gaza residents.
As one US official said as quoted by Axios, "Blinken wants to try and shape the outcome of the war and he will make clear in his speech how he thinks Israel can turn its tactical wins against Hamas into strategic gains."
This is happening as the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, affirmed it is keen on reaching a Gaza ceasefire deal.
In a statement, the Palestinian group confirmed that indirect negotiations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, regarding reaching a deal that would end the Israeli war on Gaza and complete a prisoner exchange with "Israel", are progressing well.
Hamas has consistently maintained that any deal must result in a permanent end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, while "Israel" has firmly stated it will not cease its war until the Palestinian group is dismantled.
