Some of the masterminds behind the United States' invasion and occupation of Iraq two decades ago are offering a plan for reconstructing and "de-radicalizing" Gaza's remaining population, while maintaining "Israel's freedom of action" to continue operations against the Palestinian Resistance, Responsible Statecraft reported. 

The proposal, which was published as a report Thursday by the hard-line neoconservative Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA) and the Vandenberg Coalition, calls for the establishment of a private entity, the "International Trust for Gaza Relief and Reconstruction," to be led by "a group of Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates" and "supported by the United States and other nations."

The "Gaza Futures Task Force" report recommends a board comprised of non-Hamas civilians and states that the Palestinian Authority should be "consulted in and publicly bless" the Trust while undergoing a "revamping" process.

"Israel" would continue its deadly raids against the Palestinian Resistance factions and "security" would be provided by Trust leaders and “capable forces from non-regional states with close ties to Israel,” in addition to “vetted Gazans".

The Trust would also have the liberty to “hire private security contractors with good reputations among Western militaries,” which will collaborate with Israeli occupation forces (IOF).

The proposal was developed by a task group of nine individuals, four of whom had major roles as Middle East strategists under former President George W. Bush, as well as before and after the catastrophic 2003 Iraq war.

Leading the effort is John Hannah, a former advisor for Vice President Dick Cheney and then Cheney's National Security Advisor from 2005 to 2009, succeeding Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who resigned after being charged with perjury. Libby, who former President Donald Trump subsequently granted a full pardon, also serves on the Gaza task team.

Elliott Abrams is another significant member of the task force. He previously served as the senior director for Near East and North African Affairs in the National Security Council under Bush from 2002 to 2009 and, ironically, was instrumental in meddling in internal affairs in Gaza by aiding an attempted takeover in 2007 after Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian elections. 

Eric Edelman, a fourth member of the task force, was Cheney's Principal Deputy National Security Advisor from 2001 to 2003.

The four men have strong associations with pro-"Israel" neoconservative organizations and think tanks, serving on the boards or in advisory positions for the Hudson Institute, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the ultra-hawkish Center for Security Policy, the Vandenberg Coalition, and JINSA.

Report centers on 'needs of Israel'

These organizations have advocated policies that are broadly consistent with those of the Likud Party, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Some of the report's key findings are centered on the "deterrence and security needs of Israel," "resisting Iran's ambitions," and "eradicating Hamas" as a governing and military power.

Other goals include continued action against the Islamic Jihad in Palestine, as well as "de-militarizing, de-radicalizing, and improving conditions in Gaza" to avoid the repetition of the events of October 7. 

The report also dictates that the US and other "concerned states" should aid in sending humanitarian assistance to Gaza, as well as efforts to rebuild the Strip, noting that activities should be "governed by an international board" that includes nations in support of the Trust, like "Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others."

Rather than address "Israel's" ongoing occupation and apartheid in Palestine, the report focuses on the "deradicalization" of Gaza, accusing Hamas of "years of radicalization."

RS underlines how the report goes as far as to echo a "Likud talking point," which is accusing UNRWA of "perpetuating and deepening the Palestinian crisis," stressing that it should be replaced by Palestinian institutions and other organizations "committed to peace."

The report notes that all of the aforementioned efforts should take place as an active measure to "counter Iran," which includes the "threat posed by Hezbollah and resuming progress toward normalizing Israel and Saudi Arabia." 

Netanyahu's plan for 'after-war' Gaza: What are the main takeaways?

Last week, Netanyahu presented the Israeli war cabinet with a document of principles regarding the occupation's plots for the future of the Gaza Strip. 

Although discussions regarding these plans have been framed under plans for the "day after" the war on the Gaza Strip comes to an end, the glaring proposition from the document is the continued direct occupation of several sectors in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu said that the Israeli occupation forces will do so until the full "de-militarization" of the Strip is achieved, adding that their presence in the Gaza Strip will be indefinite.

So what are the main takeaways from the document?

1. Israeli occupation forces will continue their war on the Gaza Strip until they achieve their preset goals for the Gaza Strip. This includes the "destruction of the military capabilities and governmental infrastructure of" the Palestinian Resistance;
   - Returning all Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip via military means;
   - Removing "any security threat from the Gaza Strip" in the long run;
   - Doing so via the indefinite presence of occupation forces in the Gaza Strip.
2. The complete de-militarization of the Gaza Strip, excluding a police force that will be collaborating with Israeli authorities.
3. An invasion of the southernmost city of Rafah will be launched, which will be paired with the complete occupation of the Palestinian side of the Palestinian-Egyptian border — known as the Philadelphi Axis.
4. Excavation work for "buffer zones" that section the Gaza Strip will proceed.
5. Plans for the "de-radicalization" of the Gaza Strip by directly altering its educational system and controlling its mosques will be implemented.
6. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) will be dissolved and replaced with other international organizations.
7. A local government that will only run civilian affairs will be established, which will be run by local collaborators who have no ties to the Palestinian Resistance.
8. The reconstruction of the Gaza Strip with only commence after the "de-militarization" of the Gaza Strip is achieved and the implementation of the "de-radicalization" process begins.

No consensus

Many of the aforementioned policies have either been explicitly articulated by Netanyahu in press conferences or interviews or have circulated as rumors within media circles. However, the Israeli Prime Minister has yet to garner the support of members of the war cabinet and the members of the coalition government. 

Some ministers and officials have called for the re-occupation of several areas of the Gaza Strip, calling for the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Others have discussed plans for the emergence of a "Reformed Palestinian Authority (RFA)," which would be tasked with running civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip, an idea supported by the United States and other allies.

Nevertheless, Netanyahu's plots for the Gaza Strip disregard both notions and opt to push forward the heads of several clans that would supposedly collaborate with his government to ensure a smooth flow of affairs in the Gaza Strip. The plan itself has been a subject of criticism by Israeli media outlets such as The Times of Israel, which says that those yet-to-be-identified chieftains will lose legitimacy among Palestinians for collaborating with occupation authorities.

Furthermore, the document presented by Netanyahu mentions that several governments around the world will aid "Israel" in achieving its goals for the Gaza Strip. These partners are supposed to play essential roles in several vital sectors that would ensure the success of the plan. The glaring issue, however, is that these rumored and stated partners have publicly announced their opposition to the unconditioned implementation of the plans.

The notion of taking full control of the Philedalphi Axis, which "Israel" had previously occupied before its unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, has been outright rejected by Egyptian authorities. Cairo believes that such an action would directly threaten its sovereignty and breach the terms of previous agreements reached between the two governments. Nevertheless, the document says that Egypt will play an important role in "securing" the border. 

According to Israeli analysts and outlets, Netanyahu also expects Saudi Arabia and the UAE to play a quintessential role in "de-radicalizing" Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli authorities will need "the involvement and assistance of Arab countries that have experience in promoting de-radicalization."

However, Riyadh, in particular, has said that it will not carry on with plans to normalize ties with the Israeli occupation unless the latter allows for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 territories.