What Does the Potential Establishment of a “Civil Administration” in Gaza Mean?

The Israeli occupation army has recently created a new position titled “Head of Humanitarian Civil Efforts in the Gaza Strip,” aimed at overseeing humanitarian aspects and coordinating civil affairs. This move seems intended to prolong the occupation of Gaza for an extended period.

This new role, to be filled by Israeli Brigadier General Elad Goren, parallels the position of Head of the Civil Administration under the Israeli occupation authority in the West Bank. Goren’s responsibilities include overseeing the potential return of one million displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, managing reconstruction projects, coordinating with humanitarian aid organizations, delivering aid to residents, and preparing for the winter season, according to the Israeli newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth.”

Goren is expected to lead “long-term civil strategic paths” in Gaza, aiming to provide the Israeli occupation army with “international legitimacy to continue its war on Gaza” while avoiding a humanitarian crisis or famine in the area.

A senior security official told “Yedioth Ahronoth,” “This is not a temporary project; this position will stay with us for years to come,” rejecting the notion that Israeli intervention in Gaza will end soon, regardless of the pace of the conflict or any potential prisoner exchange deals.

This Israeli move to appoint Goren coincided with the Israeli cabinet’s approval of a map that outlines the Israeli army’s presence along the Philadelphia Corridor, as part of any potential exchange deal with Palestinian resistance.

What is the Civil Administration?

Established in November 1981, the Civil Administration initially comprised two separate bodies, one for the Gaza Strip and the other for the West Bank. It was created under an order issued by then-Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, with the aim of managing the daily affairs of the local population in these occupied territories.

The Civil Administration sought to improve Israel’s image on the global stage and give the impression of a political structure in the Palestinian territories, diverting attention from the reality of an occupation rejected by the local population and recognized as illegal under international law, according to the Palestinian Center for Israeli Studies “Madar.”

At the time, it was agreed that the head of the Civil Administration would be subordinate to the “Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories,” who, in turn, would be subordinate to the Defense Minister.

The Civil Administration was granted all civil powers that had previously been under direct control of the occupation army. Despite this new division of roles, the military maintained an active role in determining daily policy lines.

Internally, the Civil Administration was organized into three departments: Economic (covering trade, transportation, industry, and employment), Services (covering education, interior affairs, social welfare, and health), and Property (covering public lands, natural resources, and absentee property).

The Real Role

With the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, all tasks of the Civil Administration were transferred to the ministries and agencies created by the Authority. The plan was to dissolve the Civil Administration, but instead, the number of employees was reduced, and certain sovereign powers remained under its control, such as “registering Palestinians, issuing identity cards, driver’s licenses, military orders, and statements.”

In recent years, the Civil Administration has begun to reassert itself by reclaiming more powers, indicating Israel’s intention to annex the West Bank. This aligns with the positions of the current Israeli government coalition, which includes extremist ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

One of the points of contention between Smotrich and the Israeli government coalition, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, revolves around the Civil Administration. Smotrich promised his voters that he would dismantle it, while Israeli security agencies (such as the army and intelligence) and key political parties like Likud oppose dismantling it for technical and political reasons.

Although Smotrich’s goal in dismantling the Civil Administration is to free up settlement activity in Area C (areas under Palestinian Authority control for medical and educational services for Palestinians, while Israel controls security, administrative, and legal aspects), the role of this administration is not limited to overseeing security coordination. More importantly, it controls and regulates the lives of Palestinians, according to “Madar.”

Due to High Costs

Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that security officials oppose imposing a military administration in the Gaza Strip, arguing that it would require an annual cost of 20 billion shekels (5.5 billion dollars), necessitating responsibility for 2.3 million people and the presence of five permanent military brigades.

On several occasions, Netanyahu has stated, “Gaza after the war should be governed by a civil administration acceptable to Israel, with the assistance of Arab countries. Post-war Gaza must begin a process of combating extremism starting with schools and mosques.”

He believes that the Civil Administration will be responsible for distributing aid in Gaza, while the international community will handle reconstruction.

The Israeli occupation army is attempting to restore its image, which has been tarnished globally due to its massacres in Gaza. It seeks to legitimize its military operations in the Gaza Strip by highlighting its cooperation in humanitarian efforts, particularly as the threat of epidemic outbreaks, most recently polio, rises. The United Nations is calling for a humanitarian truce to vaccinate children in Gaza and prevent the spread of the disease.