Around the Gaza Strip
Israel presents plans for buffer zone
December 1, 2023, 8:40 p.m
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After Hamas massacres of Israeli civilians, the country invaded the Gaza Strip to crush the terrorist group. What will happen next with the Palestinian territory is unclear. The government is now sending plans for a buffer zone to Arab states.
According to insiders, Israel has informed several Arab states about plans to set up a buffer zone around the Palestinian territory after the war in the Gaza Strip. This zone should be on the Palestinian side, as the Reuters news agency learned from Egyptian and other circles in the region.
According to three insiders, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have been informed of the plans. Non-Arab Turkey was also informed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser, Ophir Falk, told Reuters a buffer zone could be part of a planned demilitarization of the coastal strip.
Israel had indicated that it was considering establishing a buffer zone. According to the insiders, the plans have now been presented to the states mentioned as part of a future security solution for the Gaza Strip. “Israel wants this buffer zone between the Gaza Strip and Israel from north to south to prevent Hamas or other extremists from entering or attacking Israel,” a regional security official said. He was among three insiders who requested confidentiality, including regarding their nationality.
Width of buffer zone unclear
No statements were available from the Arab states mentioned and Turkey. A US official said Israel submitted the buffer zone plan. However, he did not say to whom it was submitted.
Asked by Reuters about the zone, Netanyahu’s adviser Falk said the plan was more detailed. A three-stage process is envisaged, which includes the destruction of Hamas and the demilitarization and de-radicalization of the Gaza Strip. “A buffer zone could be part of the demilitarization process,” he said.
High-ranking Israeli security sources said a buffer zone was being examined. The dimensions of any zone are unclear, for example whether it should extend one or two kilometers or hundreds of meters into the Gaza Strip. This is around 40 kilometers long and between five and twelve kilometers wide. 2.3 million people live there.