Foreign forces will initially deploy alongside Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza, leaving the devastated enclave separated by the "yellow line" currently controlled by Israel, according to US military planning documents obtained by The Guardian and sources briefed on US plans.
Washington has changed its approach to the future of the enclave several times, including abandoning the model of fenced camps for Palestinians, called “safe alternative communities.” US officials have acknowledged that the planning is “very dynamic” and that only a few people have full access to the decision-making stages.
At the heart of the plan is the creation of an International Stabilization Force, as outlined in Donald Trump's 20-point plan. The US hopes a UN Security Council resolution will be passed soon, paving the way for military commitments from partner states.
Similarly, reconstruction in the “green zone” is seen by the US as a way to encourage Palestinians to migrate there voluntarily, while the “red zone” remains overcrowded with over 2 million residents, without adequate shelter and with severe restrictions on aid deliveries. The need for reconstruction is urgent, with more than 80% of Gaza’s homes damaged or destroyed by the war, including almost all schools and hospitals, according to UN data.
Humanitarian organizations, which have raised serious concerns about the model, said on Friday that they had not yet been notified of the change in plan.
