The American administration is considering appointing an American official as the chief civilian advisor for a predominantly Palestinian force when the Israeli war on Gaza ends, according to Politico magazine, citing four officials on Friday, May 24, 2024.
The American magazine stated that the proposal indicates that the United States plans to be significantly involved in securing the post-war phase in Gaza. The sources said that the civilian advisor will be stationed in the Middle East and will work closely with the force’s commander, who will be either Palestinian or from an Arab country.
Washington is still discussing the extent of official authority that this advisor will have, but all officials, who spoke anonymously due to the highly sensitive nature of the discussions, confirmed that the proposal is part of a plan for the United States to play a “prominent” role in rescuing Gaza from its desperate chaos.
Private discussions between the White House, the Pentagon, and the State Department about the advisor’s role—which have not been previously reported—show that the Biden administration expects to play a role in Gaza the day after the war, including improving the lives of 2.2 million Palestinians suffering in the devastated territory, according to Politico.
The officials said that the advisor will never be stationed in or enter Gaza itself, indicating a desire to avoid any implication that the United States will control the sector’s future. Two officials said that the advisor might be stationed in Sinai or Jordan.
“The Day After” Scenarios
The four officials said that the plan to appoint a civilian advisor is one of many scenarios proposed for “the day after,” which include other scenarios focusing on developing Gaza’s economy and rebuilding the destroyed cities. While many plans include some form of peacekeeping force, discussions are still ongoing about its formation and the authorities it will be granted.
A senior administration official said, “We have discussed several different formulas for some kind of interim security force in Gaza, and we have talked with many partners about how the United States can support that with all our capabilities from outside Gaza.”
The officials added that a ceasefire and the return of hostages must be agreed upon first, and media outlets have reported attempts to revive talks.
The American website Axios reported that the CIA director is expected to meet with the head of the Mossad in a new step to revive ceasefire negotiations, while Israeli media said that Netanyahu’s government has granted limited powers to its negotiating delegation.
Arab Participation in Peacekeeping Force
A second official said that the Biden administration is trying to convince Arab countries like Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE to join the peacekeeping force, as regional countries continuously demand that the United States play an active role in Gaza’s future after the war.
The British Financial Times previously reported that three Arab countries had preliminary discussions about a peacekeeping force plan with the United States, including Egypt, the UAE, and Morocco, but they want the United States to recognize the Palestinian state first, while Saudi Arabia rejected the idea of deploying its forces in the sector.
The official added that there is also broad agreement between the United States, Israel, and regional actors to help form a Palestinian council comprising Palestinians from Gaza to serve as a temporary governing structure. Spain, Ireland, and Norway plan to recognize the Palestinian state next week, a clear sign that there is growing interest among U.S. allies in pushing for a sovereign Palestinian state.
Israel must also support the establishment of a peacekeeping force in Gaza, which is difficult to promote, according to Politico, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government opposes any Palestinian Authority involvement in managing the sector. However, it is unclear what the alternative is, as all officials agreed that the desperate conditions in Gaza require a peacekeeping force.
This comes as the war launched by the Israeli occupation army on Gaza has entered its eighth month, leaving around 113,000 dead or injured, according to figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
