Gallant at the White House: "Without a clear and absolute decision in Gaza - we are bringing war to the north"/Ministry of Defense
During his visit to Washington last week, Defense Minister Yoav Galant discussed the possibility of establishing a multi-national military force of Arab countries, which would receive the support of the United States, and would be responsible for controlling law and order in Gaza and escorting the humanitarian aid convoys, an Israeli senior official who was not privy to the details said.
Bringing in aid trucks to the Gaza Strip/Official website, Matfash
why is it important
Israel is interested in the advancement of such an Arab force both to solve the problem of the looting of humanitarian aid convoys and to prevent the spread of hunger in the Gaza Strip and also to enable the construction of a Palestinian alternative to Hamas rule in Gaza.
"Such a move will build a governing body in the territory that is not Hamas and will solve for Israel a growing problem with the US when it comes to the humanitarian situation in Gaza," said an Israeli official.
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Defense Minister Yoav Galant's meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, March 26, 2024/Ministry of Defense, Ariel Harmoni
In the news center
The Israeli official noted that Gallant discussed the possibility of establishing such a multinational force both during his talks with US Defense Secretary Austin and in his talks with Secretary of State Lincoln and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as part of promoting a plan for the day after the war in Gaza.
According to the Israeli official, this is an Arab force that will stay in Gaza only for a limited transition period and will be responsible for securing the temporary pier that the US will build off the coast of Gaza and for escorting the humanitarian aid convoys so that the aid reaches the population, not looting and not being under Hamas control.
Gallant asked the US to cooperate in order to promote the establishment of this multinational force and emphasized to the Americans that this is political and material support and not the sending of American soldiers to Gaza.
A resident of Gaza eats/Reuters
Behind the Scenes
The Israeli official noted that senior officials in the IDF and the Ministry of Defense discussed the issue in recent weeks with representatives from three Arab countries, including Egypt.
The progress came following visits by IDF personnel and the Ministry of Defense to Arab countries. "There is progress in promoting this initiative both in terms of the willingness of the American administration and in terms of the openness of Arab countries to the idea," said the Israeli official.
After his return from Washington, Gallant updated Prime Minister Netanyahu, the War Cabinet and the Chief of Staff on the subject.
Gallant and other senior officials in the defense system are expected to hold follow-up talks on the issue with the US and Arab countries in order to promote the initiative.
An aid truck for Palestinians, Rafah, March 19, 2024/Reuters
the other side
A senior American said that the American Secretary of State in Lincoln held talks on the issue with the foreign ministers of several Arab countries in Cairo last week.
According to him, Egypt is the main country that deals with this idea but requires the involvement of the Palestinian Authority and an official invitation from the Palestinian Authority to send Arab forces to Gaza.
The American official noted that this is a creative idea, but the chances of promoting it in the immediate term are relatively low, partly due to Netanyahu's opposition to the involvement of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.
The Israeli official noted that the issue of the Palestinian Authority's involvement in the idea would have to be discussed in Israel, but emphasized: "Those who will rule Gaza at the end of the day instead of Hamas are Palestinians and not Chinese."
The American official added that the Arab countries will not move forward with such a move unless it is done in the context of promoting the two-state solution.
A senior official from one of the Arab countries with whom the discussion was held said that Gallant did not accurately understand the Arab countries' position. "We are not ready to send soldiers to secure convoys. We will consider sending soldiers to a peacekeeping force the day after the war if this force is under American command and if the move is related to promoting the two-state solution.
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