ALBAWABA - In a recent development reported by Reuters, Israeli occupation has purportedly put forth a proposal to establish a "buffer zone" on the Palestinian side of the border with Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia following the conclusion of the conflict. The alleged aim is to prevent potential future attacks by creating this buffer zone along the Gaza border.
Sources suggest that Israeli occupation communicated its plans to create a buffer zone to Turkey and neighboring Arab nations, including the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan, all of which normalized relations with Israel in 2020. The information was reportedly also shared with Saudi Arabia, which had suspended the normalization process mediated by the U.S. in the wake of the Gaza attacks starting on October 7.
The methods by which this information reached Saudi Arabia remain undisclosed, with sources not providing explicit details. However, a high-ranking security official, one of three regional sources cited in the report, stated that Israeli occupations's motivation for the buffer zone is to prevent infiltration or attacks by groups like Hamas from Gaza into Israel.
Plan Details and International Response
Ophir Falk, the foreign policy advisor to the occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, shed light on the plan, stating, "The plan is more detailed than that. It relies on a three-stage process for the days after Hamas." The three stages involve eliminating Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza. Falk suggested that the buffer zone could be part of the demilitarization process. However, specific discussions with international partners about these plans were not detailed.
An unnamed U.S. official emphasized opposition to any plan that would reduce Palestinian territories, echoing previous sentiments. The official confirmed that Israeli occupation had raised the idea of a buffer zone but emphasized the U.S.'s stance against any plan diminishing the size of Palestinian territories.
The report included a statement from a senior Israeli security source, noting that the idea of a buffer zone is currently under examination, and the depth of such a zone is yet to be determined—whether it would be one kilometer, two kilometers, or hundreds of meters inside Gaza remains unclear.
Arab Countries' Perspectives
Two Egyptian security sources revealed that during mediation talks with the occupation and Qatar, the occupation proposed the disarmament of the north of Gaza and the establishment of an internationally monitored buffer zone in the area. While many Arab countries reportedly opposed the idea of a buffer zone, there might be potential acceptance of a security barrier, though disagreements persist on its specific location.
The report concluded by mentioning Isaeli occupation's demand, during a meeting in Cairo in November, for the international trial of Hamas leaders for a complete ceasefire, suggesting that discussions on hostage release should be postponed until after the war.
