Dennis Ross and Assaf Orion
National Interest, Feb. 28, 2025
“Arab states would not have to take on Hamas directly but would be asked to contribute to security, rehabilitation, and investment in the areas that are free of Hamas.”
President Trump transformed the general thinking about Gaza and the day after with his call for Palestinians to be relocated. The president was seemingly thinking in commonsense terms: it is only possible to rebuild Gaza, a completely devastated area in which two million people are living, if you can remove the population. Straightforward, yes, but it is a call that runs counter to the prevailing narrative among Palestinians and Arabs who fear that temporary relocation will lead to inducing Palestinians to leave their homeland permanently. This is precisely what Israeli Ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich are calling for, which lends credence to these fears.
President Trump’s thinking was apolitical. And, yet, he put his finger on a real issue. Rebuilding Gaza is a massive task that is very difficult due to two factors. First, there is a profound need to address the housing, medical, water, and electricity needs of the public, even as the herculean task of rehabilitating and restoring infrastructure is being addressed. Second, so long as Hamas is controlling Gaza, there will be no reconstruction and no calm. Investment in Gaza will simply not be forthcoming so long as Hamas retains power. Donors and investors know Hamas will divert materials, try to reconstitute itself, and, even if it takes years, prepare to launch attacks against Israel again. Who will invest knowing that destruction is again guaranteed? ….SOURCE