Gallant calls on the USA to establish a military force of Arab countries in the Gaza Strip

• Published date: 29 March 2024
• Author: MAARIV ONLINE
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

An Israeli senior official told Maariv that the United States would support this force, which would be responsible for controlling law and order in Gaza and escorting humanitarian aid convoys

Israel is interested in the advancement of such an Arab force both to solve the problem of the looting of humanitarian aid convoys and to prevent the spread of hunger in the Gaza Strip and also to enable the construction of a Palestinian alternative to Hamas rule in Gaza.

"Such a move will build a governing body in the territory that is not Hamas and will solve for Israel a growing problem with the US when it comes to the humanitarian situation in Gaza," said an Israeli official.

The Israeli official noted that Gallant discussed the possibility of establishing such a multinational force both during his talks with US Defense Secretary Austin and in his talks with Secretary of State Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as part of promoting a plan for the day after the war in Gaza.

According to the Israeli official, this is an Arab force that will only stay in Gaza for a limited transition period and will be responsible for securing the temporary pier that the US will build off the coast of Gaza and for escorting the humanitarian aid convoys so that the aid reaches the population, not looting and not being under Hamas control.

American support is key to the plan

Gallant asked the US...