A UN-Supported Arab Plan for the “Day After” in Gaza: “A Disguised Occupation”

The Lebanese newspaper “Al-Akhbar” reported that serious efforts are being made by the UAE and Jordan to develop work programs to establish an alternative authority to Hamas in the Gaza Strip, benefiting from the lack of opposition from Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The newspaper added that the latest round of negotiations ended with all mediators being convinced to explore a formula for the day after.

Simultaneously, discussions involving influential regional players are underway to support efforts to launch dialogue between Palestinian factions. According to the newspaper, efforts are being made to expand discussions that have begun among Palestinian entities that Qatar and Egypt consider close to the resistance, to formulate a vision for the day after, which Hamas would agree to discuss.

The newspaper explained that Amman, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi, is working to activate informal communication and negotiation channels between entities hostile to the resistance to control the Gaza Strip and strip power from Hamas. This effort involves forces, capitals, entities, and Palestinian, Arab, Israeli, and international personalities.

It pointed out the changes in the United Nations administration of humanitarian aid, which began with the resignation of British Assistant Secretary-General Martin Griffiths. These developments have opened the door for another team within the UN, working with Secretary-General António Guterres, who is perceived to be closer to the Israeli viewpoint and less neutral.

The newspaper mentioned that the key figures in this matter are the team led by the UN coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, the new coordinator in the West Bank, Mohannad al-Hadi, and the Bulgarian assistant political affairs coordinator, Miroslav Zafirov. They work on several fronts inside and outside Palestine.

The newspaper’s report detailed the work of these entities, which operate based on several points, including “trying to convince Israel that there should be a transitional phase in the management of the Gaza Strip, and that the sector should be placed under UN guardianship during this period based on a Security Council resolution.”

These entities also seek, according to the newspaper, to convince Arab and Islamic countries to work under the UN umbrella within the reconstruction project, including the security aspect related to building new police forces in the sector. The UAE and Jordan show readiness, provided they receive Palestinian and Gazan cover to prevent any clash with Hamas. However, the true stance of Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Indonesia remains unclear.

The newspaper confirmed that there are individuals close to Guterres who refused to get involved in a political project, especially since it would face outright rejection from Hamas, which would consider it a disguised occupation.

The newspaper noted that the team led by Sigrid Kaag adopts Israeli proposals suggesting that Hamas is losing popular support. This UN team does not discuss with Israel improving the handling of UN organizations by occupation forces. They are aware of the daily obstacles posed by the Israeli side, leading to restrictions on workers, whether they are foreign or Palestinian.

According to the newspaper, the UAE, in cooperation with the dissident Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan, continues to develop a work program within the Gaza Strip, using the humanitarian file as an entry point.

The newspaper reported that Dahlan said the UAE has allocated a budget of about one and a half billion dollars at his disposal.

Dahlan made direct contacts or through his aide Samir Mashharawi with Hamas leadership in Doha to reach an understanding on an independent body.

The newspaper noted that the coordinator of occupation activities in the occupied territories, Brigadier General Ghassan Alian, visited the UAE more than four times since the start of the war, meeting with Dahlan and Emirati officials. Abu Dhabi financed the aid that the American maritime corridor was supposed to provide from Cyprus to Gaza residents.

According to the newspaper, Jordan handles part of the contacts, interested in playing a central role in post-war programs in Gaza, focusing on managing all health-related files. Conferences for this purpose have been held in Amman and Beirut, and contacts are ongoing with several donor countries to achieve this goal. Jordanian authorities now control the movement of wounded people wishing to leave the Gaza Strip via the West Bank.