Israel’s military presence in Gaza is set to continue for years, according to a senior Israeli official, casting a long shadow over any potential ceasefire with Hamas. This declaration comes amidst ongoing US-brokered efforts to solidify a truce following the recent conflict with Hezbollah. Avi Dichter, Israel’s Minister for Food Security and a member of the Israeli security cabinet, painted a stark picture of the future in a recent statement.
“I think that we are going to stay in Gaza for a long time,” Dichter stated. He further elaborated, “I think most people understand that [Israel] will be years in some kind of West Bank situation where you go in and out and maybe you remain along Netzarim [corridor].” This extended deployment, according to Dichter, serves a dual purpose: preventing Hamas from recruiting new fighters and ensuring the smooth flow of food and humanitarian aid into the region.
However, this statement reveals only part of the story. Reports from The Guardian paint a more comprehensive picture, detailing the Israeli military’s extensive infrastructure development within Gaza. Eyewitness accounts describe the construction of massive military bases and road networks across northern and central Gaza. A recently discharged Israeli officer offered a chilling account, stating that a significant portion of the past 70 days involved demolishing buildings to make way for these new bases in the strategically important Netzarim corridor, a heavily militarized zone.
“That was the only mission,” the officer revealed. “There was not a single construction left that was taller than my waist anywhere (in the corridor), except our bases and observation towers.” This large-scale demolition and construction project raises serious questions about the nature of Israel’s long-term plans for Gaza.
Furthermore, Israel’s proposed post-war plan for Gaza, as reported by Reuters, involves a controversial partnership with powerful local families. The plan hinges on establishing an alternative civil administration composed of local Palestinian actors who are willing to collaborate with Israel. However, conversations with five members of major families in Gaza, including the head of one prominent grouping, reveal a significant obstacle: these influential families are unwilling to participate in such a collaboration. This raises critical concerns about the feasibility and potential consequences of Israel’s proposed governance structure for Gaza.
The combination of a protracted military presence, massive infrastructure development, and the apparent failure to secure the cooperation of influential local families paints a complex and uncertain future for Gaza, raising serious doubts about the long-term stability and self-governance of the region following any potential ceasefire. The implications of this long-term Israeli presence will undoubtedly have significant repercussions for the Palestinian population and the geopolitical landscape of the region for years to come.
