Top Israeli Minister to carry plots for Gaza to Washington: Axios

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
26 Dec 2023 10:37
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Israeli Minister Ron Dermer will visit the US to discuss future plans for the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip with officials from the Biden Administration.

Ron Dermer attends a special session of the Israeli Knesset, to approve and swear in a new government which he would be part of, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, on December 22, 2022. (AP)

Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is expected to visit Washington on Tuesday, to meet with White House and State Department officials regarding the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, Axios reported citing two unnamed Israeli and US officials.

Heading the US delegation will be Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's chief advisor, accompanied by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and some members of Congress, a senior Israeli official informed Axios.

Dermer is known to be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest confident, according to Axios. His trip to the US comes at a "high-intensity phase" of the Israeli war on Gaza, where the Biden Administration and Israeli officials look to debate future steps regarding the down-scaling of Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Minister looks to discuss the occupation's plans for a long-lasting low-intensity phase, which is expected to start by the end of January. Among the debated aspects is the governance of Gaza following the end of the aggression, in which the occupation expects that it would have dismantled the Palestinian Resistance, an unnamed Israeli official confided to Axios.

'Israel's' hypothetical Gaza

The news website has also revealed details of "Israel's" plot for Gaza, where the occupation plans to impose a "Reformed Palestinian Authority" to run civilian affairs in the Strip.

Interestingly, Israeli officials have started using the acronym "RPA" during their discussions with American officials, Axios reported. Although the US has publicly announced its support for a Mahmoud Abbas-led Palestinian Authority governing the Gaza Strip, its officials have refused to comment on the Israeli-proposed RPA.

"Israel's" plot for the Gaza Strip hinges on defeating the Palestinian Resistance. However, after leading aggression on the Strip, which has lasted for more than 80 days, the Israeli occupation has failed to dismantle the Resistance's infrastructure or achieve any of its objectives, including the retrieval of Israeli captives. Additionally, polls conducted in Palestine have indicated overwhelming support for the Palestinian Resistance, headed by Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades, and a lack of support for the PA.

It is worth noting that Netanyahu has expressed, on multiple occasions, "Israel's" intention of occupying and ruling the Gaza Strip via military means. The Israeli tendency to take such action sheds light on the unnamed Israeli official's motivation for using "civilian affairs" when referring to the proposed RPA.

US military supplies critical to Israeli crimes

On another note, Dermer is anticipated to raise concerns about the delay in the delivery of munitions to the occupation's military during discussions with US officials. The issue has prompted unease within the Israeli government, with Security Minister Yoav Gallant expressing worries to Blinken last week. Gallant questioned Blinken on whether the delay was politically motivated, to which the US official said that it was a "pure paperwork issue."

Talks on military supplies will be key for "Tel Aviv", as it seeks to ensure a constant flow of munitions, amid high global demand. Moreover, the occupation has depended on high-intensity bombardment during its war on the Gaza Strip, firing tons of munitions at Gaza's neighborhoods to cover infantry and armored incursions, which highlights the importance of US supplies.

In this context, the results of Dermer's discussions with US officials hold one of the keys to shaping the trajectory of several pivotal aspects linked to Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip. These outcomes will significantly influence critical elements such as the duration and sustainability of the Israeli aggression, determining its form and intensity in the near future.