Palestinian presidency rejects foreign administration of Gaza
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“We will not accept or allow the presence of a foreigner on our land, whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip,” the official spokesperson for the Palestinian presidency said.
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Nabil Abu Rudeineh being sworn in as deputy prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, in Ramallah, April 13, 2019. (AFP)
The Palestinian presidency issued a statement on Sunday rejecting "Israel's" proposal for international forces to administer Gaza.
"There is no legitimacy for any foreign presence on Palestinian territory, and only the Palestinian people can decide who governs them and manages their affairs," said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the official spokesperson for the presidency.
The statement was made in response to comments from an unnamed Israeli security official cited by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, who stated that the IOF will remain in Gaza until foreign forces take over governance of the Strip.
"We will not accept or allow the presence of a foreigner on our land, whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip," said Abu Rudeineh, adding "The Palestinian issue is one of land and statehood, not a matter of humanitarian aid. It is a sacred cause and the central issue for the Arabs."
Gallant's detailed plan for postwar transition in Gaza
A Washington Post opinion piece revealed Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant's comprehensive plan for a postwar transition in Gaza, laid out during his recent visit to the United States.
A steering committee led by the United States and "moderate Arab partners" would supervise the transition.
Security would be overseen by an international force that might include troops from Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco. US troops would provide logistics, command, and control from outside of Gaza, most likely from Egypt.
Eventually, local security would be handled by a Palestinian force. Both US officials and Gallant agreed that this Palestinian security force "should probably be trained under an existing security assistance program for the Palestinian Authority, headed by Lt. General Michael Fenzel, "a security coordinator" for both "Israel" and the authority based in occupied al-Quds.
Commenting on the last point, the article's author said, "Gallant is reflecting the judgment of the Israeli defense establishment here, even though Netanyahu publicly has rejected a role for the Palestinian Authority in postwar Gaza."
Netanyahu pushes against Palestinian Authority involvement
Earlier on June 7, Netanyahu declared his opposition to any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. This stance has since become a significant political talking point, making it challenging for him to reverse his position.
During a meeting of "Israel's" war cabinet before the talks in Egypt, Netanyahu stated that he does not agree to any role for the Palestinian Authority at the Rafah crossing.
Netanyahu's remark contradicted a policy approved by the war cabinet a few days earlier, which stated that "Israel" would agree to the Rafah crossing being operated by any government entity other than the Gaza government.
The Commissioner-General of the Supreme Authority of Palestinian clans in Gaza, Akef al-Masri, affirmed on June 24 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ministers "have not and will not be able to break the will of the Palestinian people in their pursuit of freedom, ending the occupation, establishing a Palestinian state, and achieving the right of return."
It is noteworthy that the statements from the clans in the Gaza Strip come after Netanyahu acknowledged the failure of his plan, which proposed that Palestinian clans would govern the Strip instead of the Hamas Movement. He reiterated his refusal to hand over administration to the Palestinian Authority or establish a Palestinian state, as reported by Israeli Channel 12.
