Navigating the Complex Web of Postwar Gaza Proposals

Since the recent cease-fire in Gaza, conflicting proposals for governance have emerged. Yet, critical divisions among Israel, Hamas, and Arab nations hinder any viable solutions.

In the wake of President Trump's contentious suggestion to expel Gaza's population, various regional leaders have been racing to propose their visions for a postwar Gaza. However, no plan has emerged that is acceptable to all the key stakeholders involved. President Trump's controversial approach suggests direct U.S. governance over Gaza, transforming the territory into an occupied region devoid of its native inhabitants. Conversely, an Arab initiative envisions leadership by Palestinian technocrats, nestled within an expanded Palestinian state framework.

Israel's perspectives vary too; one proposal involves ceding limited control to Palestinians while explicitly blocking the pathway to full statehood, while another envisions complete Israeli occupation of Gaza. As the conflict intensified, the number of proposals regarding Gaza's governance surged, especially after the cease-fire in January. Trump’s idea for forced population transfer lit a fire under these regional discussions, pressing the necessity for alternative plans.

Despite this rush to address Gaza’s future, obstacles remain insurmountable. Each proposed plan invariably offends one party or the other, be it Israel, Hamas, or neighboring Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, whom many hope will provide financial resources and oversight for Gaza's rehabilitation.

Thomas R. Nides, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel, summed up the dilemma succinctly: “The devil is in the details, and none of the details in these plans make any sense.” The fundamental clash between Israel, which desires a Hamas-free Gaza, and Hamas, intent on preserving its military capabilities, has shaped a landscape where finding reconciliation seems nearly impossible. With Hamas's military wings being pivotal in the October 2023 attack that instigated the ongoing war, the stakes for both sides remain high.