After the guns fell silent in Gaza and attention shifted toward procedural matters following the return of hostages and the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli occupation prisons, a central question arose:
Has Netanyahu’s plan—and that of Israel’s far-right—regarding displacement and annexation come to an end after the Sharm El-Sheikh Agreement on October 13, 2025?
The Mirage of “Gaza Riviera”
In the months preceding the agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly stated that Arab and Muslim nations reject any displacement scheme, and equally reject his so-called “Gaza Riviera” project—a plan to transform Gaza into a commercial investment zone designed to generate profit while serving a deeper political goal: securing the Zionist entity.
On the eve of the Sharm El-Sheikh signing, Trump announced that he did not support the annexation of the West Bank, despite having previously endorsed Israel’s annexation of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Undeniably, this represents a notable shift in rhetoric and policy, regardless of how profound or strategic that change truly is.
Netanyahu’s Dreams… Vanished or Postponed?
It appears that Netanyahu’s ambitions have either evaporated or been postponed indefinitely. His ultra-right ideology rests on a worldview that seeks to reshape the region by erasing the Palestinian cause entirely—not merely through displacement or annexation, but by eliminating Palestinian identity from the regional equation.
Yet one of the most significant outcomes of the Gaza War is the global awakening to the true nature of this colonial entity. The false image long promoted—that Israel is a “democracy under threat” surrounded by hostile Arab regimes—has finally collapsed.
The world now sees, without ambiguity, that Israel is a settler-colonial power practicing genocide, starvation, and desecration of sacred sites, while plundering resources and upholding a system of deep racism. This awakening is not confined to Western Europe, Australia, or Canada; it has even reached societies that were once unconditional supporters of Israel—most notably Germany, whose pro-Israeli stance has long been tied to Holocaust guilt.
This shift has also begun to surface in American political circles, particularly among younger members of both the Democratic and Republican parties—a development that alarms Tel Aviv profoundly.
A Battle of Image and Legitimacy
Israel is increasingly losing the battle of perception. Palestinians—and indeed, all global movements aligned with truth and justice—have succeeded in exposing its crimes to the world. The occupation has forfeited moral credibility, becoming synonymous with arrogance, oppression, and disregard for human life.
Its policies of aggression, assassination, and the deliberate targeting of civilians, journalists, and humanitarian workers continue unabated—backed openly by Washington, and by Trump personally, who now stands as the entity’s primary international backer.
A Palestinian and Arab Strategy to Thwart Zionist Plans
To counter these colonial ambitions, Arab nations must adopt proactive and unified policies aimed at blocking Israeli expansionism. The success of Gaza’s resistance in unmasking Israel before global public opinion should not end there—it must be consolidated and institutionalised to ensure that the world’s perception of Israel remains anchored to its crimes.
In other words, Arab diplomacy must shift from reaction to initiative, anticipating Israel’s moves rather than merely responding to them.
On the Palestinian front, this cannot succeed without national reconciliation. The internal division among resistance factions has weakened the collective struggle, creating an environment where the occupation can exploit division and manufacture compliant Palestinian substitutes to serve its interests.
Here, the roles of Egypt and Qatar remain vital in facilitating reconciliation and preserving unity among Palestinian ranks, thereby strengthening their steadfastness against displacement and liquidation schemes.
Toward a Unified Arab Policy
Parallel to Palestinian unity efforts, Arab states must adopt firm and coordinated policies—starting with an immediate halt to all forms of normalisation with the Zionist entity. This includes both the deepening of existing ties and the initiation of new relations by countries that have not yet normalised.
Furthermore, the Arab world must articulate its own independent regional vision, standing against Israel’s colonial projects—particularly the so-called “New Middle East” initiative.
Regional actors such as Turkey and Iran already possess advanced strategic visions for the region. Thus, it is crucial for Arab nations to formulate a unified vision that safeguards their sovereignty and protects the Arab world from external ambitions.
One practical step is to enhance Arab economic cooperation within a framework of interdependence, while ending all security coordination with Israel, especially when it targets fellow Arab nations.
Such cooperation could include strategic projects akin to the “Belt and Road Initiative,” presented as independent Arab alternatives to externally imposed geopolitical frameworks, thereby ensuring that regional development serves Arab—not Israeli or Western—interests.
Strengthening Cooperation with Iran and Turkey
Building stronger relations with Iran and Turkey represents another vital path toward countering Zionist-Western designs in the region.
The closer the Arab world moves toward these two powers, the weaker the rationale becomes for Arab-Israeli rapprochement.
It is therefore essential to neutralise Western propaganda that seeks to demonise Iran in Arab political discourse. Instead of costly militarisation, Arab governments could invest in strategic political engagement with Tehran, fostering stability and shared interests. The billions spent on arms races could instead fund a partnership that enhances Arab security and independence.
Similarly, Turkey’s renewed engagement—following years of regional tension since 2013—offers new avenues for political and economic cooperation. Joint water and infrastructure projects involving Turkey, Syria, and Iraq could help ease regional tensions, allowing all to focus on confronting the greater colonial threat.
Balancing Arab Relations with Global Powers
Finally, the Arab world must remember that China and Russia remain indispensable global powers. Placing all trust—and dependency—in the United States alone is strategically reckless.
Recent decades have seen excessive Arab reliance on Washington, with minimal engagement with alternative blocs. Even limited participation in alliances like BRICS has not yet produced the strategic balance needed for true independence.
Thus, strengthening military, economic, and technological cooperation with China and Russia is essential. Such diversification of alliances would reduce political dependency and empower Arab nations to protect their collective interests with dignity and autonomy.
A balanced foreign policy—rooted in independence, regional solidarity, and Islamic ethical principles—remains the cornerstone of genuine Arab sovereignty in an increasingly polarised world.
