The proposal for an interim US administration carries major political risks for Washington, according to two sources, as it could be seen as a new American invasion of the Middle East, bringing back memories of Iraq.
The United States and Israel have held talks to establish a U.S.-led interim administration in Gaza after the war ends, sources told Reuters. The administration would be a transitional one, led by a U.S. official, aimed at maintaining order, demilitarizing and stabilizing Gaza until a permanent Palestinian administration is established, five sources familiar with the discussions said. The talks are still in the preliminary stages and there is no set timeframe for how long the administration will last, as it will depend on developments on the ground. The sources compared the idea to the Interim Authority in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, which was seen by many Iraqis as an occupying power and failed to stop an armed insurgency before handing over power to a transitional government in 2004.
The plan under discussion also envisages the inclusion of other countries in the US-led administration, without mentioning which countries specifically. According to the sources, this administration would include Palestinian technocrats, but would exclude Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA), which currently exercises limited control in the West Bank. Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, has strongly opposed the idea. Ismail Al-Thawabta, the director of Hamas’s media office in Gaza, stated that only the Palestinian people have the right to choose their leaders, rejecting any kind of foreign administration.
A State Department spokesman declined to comment on the existence of these discussions with Israel, stressing that the US stands with Israel and is committed to peace and the release of hostages. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comment on the issue. In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed that there will be a “transition period” in Gaza supervised by an international board that will include Arab countries, with Palestinian participation under their guidance. He stressed that Israel does not want to control civilian life in Gaza, but only to ensure its security interests.
The proposal for an interim US administration carries significant political risks for Washington, according to two sources, as it could be seen as a new US invasion of the Middle East, bringing back memories of Iraq. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, has proposed an international administration for Gaza, provided the Palestinian Authority is included and there is a clear path to Palestinian statehood. But Israel, especially Netanyahu, opposes any role for the Palestinian Authority and rejects Palestinian sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Israel continues its offensive in Gaza and is demanding the release of the remaining 59 hostages. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 52.000 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began. Within the Israeli ruling coalition, some extremist figures have called for “voluntary migration” of Palestinians and the rebuilding of Jewish settlements in Gaza. However, in internal discussions, some Israeli officials are considering options such as dividing the territory, creating security zones and building permanent military bases in Gaza.