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

During his visit to Washington last week, Defense Minister Yoav Galant discussed the possibility of establishing a multi-national military force of Arab countries, which would receive the support of the United States, and would be responsible for controlling law and order in Gaza and escorting humanitarian aid convoys, an Israeli senior official who was not privy to the details said.

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In fact, Israel is interested in the promotion 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. An Israeli senior official said that "such a move will build a governing body in the area that is not Hamas and will solve for Israel a growing problem with the US regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza."

The official noted that the Defense Minister discussed the possibility of establishing such a multinational force both during his talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and in his talks with Foreign Minister Anthony 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.

Also, Gallant asked the US to cooperate in promoting the establishment of this multinational force and emphasized to the Americans that this is political and material support and not the sending of American soldiers to Gaza. from three Arab countries including Egypt.

As I recall, the progress came following visits by IDF personnel and the Ministry of Defense to Arab countries. "There is progress in promoting this initiative both in terms of the willingness of the American administration and in terms of the openness of Arab countries to the idea," said the same senior official.

After Gallant returned from Washington, he informed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu , the War Cabinet and the Chief of Staff on the issue. Gallant and other senior officials in the defense establishment are expected to hold follow-up talks on the issue with the US and Arab countries to advance the initiative.