Israel seeks alternative to the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip

One of the main issues to be resolved in the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas is who will be in charge of governing the Gaza Strip when peace returns.

Through the Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 in Norway, with American support, This responsibility should rest with the Palestinian AuthorityAP (in the photo, American President Joe Biden visits Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas, in Bethlehem).

The PA was a way to give self-government to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip regions. However, after a Hamas coup d’état in 2007, the PA was expelled from Gaza.

The government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, does not seem to trust the AP to assume this role again.

On May 1, Israeli officials reportedly told Americans that if the International Criminal Court, ICC, issues an arrest warrant against Netanyahu, the country would take punitive measures against the PA. This information was given by the American website Axios.

In Israelis’ minds, the PA would be encouraging the ICC to take action against Netanyahu and other members of his government.

According to the Axiosone of the ways to punish the AP would be by freezing transfers of taxes collected in Israel to the entity.

Conversation with Arab countries

A report from New York Times on Friday, 3, states that the Israeli government would be negotiating with Arab countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, a plan to share control of the Gaza Strip after the war.

A coalition of countries would be in charge of running the educational system, rebuilding the country and maintaining order, while the Israel Defense Forces would continue to be authorized to operate in the territory.

At the same time, diplomatic rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia is being considered, which could result in a peace agreement.

According to the newspaper, Netanyahu has not spoken to other people in his government who could oppose the plan.

For Arab officials in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, however, Netanyahu’s plan is impractical, because it would not define a path towards the recognition of a Palestinian state.