The Biden administration believes that the chances of one of the moderate Arab states taking responsibility for the Gaza Strip the next day are slim to none. This was stated in internal discussions of the State Department in recent days. In the opinion of government officials, the chances of establishing a joint regime between several Arab countries are also very low.
The discussions are part of a brainstorming session between administration officials and various parties to discuss developments expected in Gaza after the war. Among the options being considered at the Israeli government level, as well as among NGOs, is that Arab states that oppose radical Islam conduct civilian life in the Gaza Strip if and when the destruction of Hamas is completed.
The names that came up in those discussions were Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, which have official ties with Israel, as well as Saudi Arabia, which formally does not yet have any.
According to American officials, none of these countries would want to be in a situation of friction with local forces in the Gaza Strip, whether they are remnants of Hamas, members of the Palestinian Authority or local powerfuls.
For this reason, the administration believes that efforts should be directed toward reforms in the Palestinian Authority, first and foremost the replacement of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. In the opinion of the Americans, this is the only option that is not an Israeli occupation.
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli political source expresses doubt whether handing over Gaza to moderate Arab rule is feasible. The official told Israel Hayom that Israel would not kill 30,<> Hamas members, so remnants of the organization would always endanger foreign forces coming to Gaza.
"It will be a serious problem, if in an area that we define as a humanitarian zone and is handed over to the UAE or Saudi Arabia, squads suddenly appear," he said. "I really don't know how they will react and how we will react, if, for example, a Hamas mayor starts receiving an audience. As far as we are concerned, he is mortal because we decided to eliminate Hamas. But what would those Emiratis or Saudis do if an Israeli drone thwarted that mayor? They cannot be presented in the Arab world as collaborating with the IDF. So there are ideas, discussions and plans, but the plotter is serious."
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