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Internal Palestinian Rivalry Pushes Israel toward Temporary Military Administration in Gaza

(Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University) Prof. Kobi Michael - The enmity between Fatah and Hamas, rooted in ideological differences, centers around the competition to lead the Palestinian national struggle. Currently, what Hamas views as the national war of liberation on a historic scale, comparable to Salah al-Din's victory over the Crusaders, Fatah sees as a national catastrophe worse than the Nakba in 1948. The ongoing hostility between Fatah and Hamas, as long as Hamas retains de facto control over Gaza, means that even if a ceasefire is reached, it will not be possible to begin the process of rebuilding Gaza. In light of the current situation, Israel is being pushed toward establishing a temporary military administration in Gaza. This is because there are no viable alternatives. Hamas is not an option, the return of the PA to the Strip is unrealistic, and there is no regional or international entity ready to take action. Without any effective control of the area, Israel cannot ensure that humanitarian aid reaches its intended recipients. Furthermore, without an alternative to Hamas, the population will continue to believe in the possibility of its survival and continued rule. Therefore, Israel should announce the formation of a temporary military administration in northern Gaza, where there are relatively few residents and weakened Hamas infrastructures. This would help ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the intended recipients, while bypassing Hamas. It would send a clear message to the Palestinian people that Hamas is no longer a viable option, which could weaken its popular support. This could lay the groundwork for the entry of an international or regional task force to assume authority over the management of the area and its population. The writer is a senior researcher at INSS.
2024-03-21 00:00:00
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