Israel has reportedly communicated its desire for a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip to several Arab states following the ongoing conflict with Hamas, according to information from Egyptian and regional sources cited by Reuters on Saturday.
Sources revealed that Israel shared its plans with neighboring countries Egypt and Jordan, as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Surprisingly, even Saudi Arabia, which lacks diplomatic ties with Israel, was said to have been informed about this development.
The initiative, reported by Reuters, does not suggest an imminent conclusion to Israel’s current offensive. However, it indicates a willingness by Israel to engage beyond traditional Arab mediators in seeking a resolution.
As of now, no Arab states have shown readiness to oversee or govern Gaza post-conflict. Palestinian authorities claim that the Israeli offensive has resulted in the death of over 15,000 people in Gaza. In a retaliatory move, Hamas allegedly killed 1,200 individuals in an October 7 raid and took more than 200 hostages.
Why is Israel advocating for a buffer zone?
A senior regional security official explained to Reuters that Israel is demanding a buffer zone in Gaza to prevent infiltration or attacks by Hamas or other militants, similar to the October 7 assault. Ophir Falk, the foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, detailed that the plan for a buffer zone aligns with a three-tier process involving the destruction of Hamas, demilitarization of Gaza, and the de-radicalization of the enclave.
While Falk suggested that a buffer zone might be part of the demilitarization process, he refrained from confirming whether these plans had been discussed with international partners, including Arab states.
Historical Context of Buffer Zone Idea
Israel has previously proposed the concept of a buffer zone, but it is now presenting it to Arab states as part of its future security plans for Gaza, as per Reuters. A U.S. official disclosed that Israel had previously mentioned the buffer zone idea without specifying to whom. However, the official reiterated Washington’s opposition to any plan that diminishes the size of Palestinian territory.
Meanwhile, a senior Israeli security source noted that the idea of a buffer zone is currently under examination, stating, “It is not clear at the moment how deep this will be and whether it could be 1 km or 2 km or hundreds of meters inside Gaza.” Any encroachment into Gaza would further constrain its 2.3 million inhabitants into a smaller area.
The situation remains dynamic as stakeholders assess the potential implications and feasibility of Israel’s proposed buffer zone in post-war Gaza.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
