WhatsappReports are indicating that one of the options Prime Minister Netanyahu is considering when dealing with Hamas is a possible annexation of northern Gaza.
To understand how this is even possible one must go back in time to the original Disengagement Plan. The first installment of that plan never called for Israel to leave the three communities in northern Gaza nor did it call for the IDF to be pulled from the Philadelphi Corridor. Those were later iterations of the plan when the Bush administration – namely Condoleeza Rice began pressuring the Sharon government.
While no official announcement of rebuilding the northern Gaza communities of Nisanit, Dugit, and Eli Sinai, it is clear that there is consensus in Israel for this to happen. This is for two reasons: these communities were seen as suburbs of Ashkelon then and would be seen as expanding the security cordon of both Ashkelon and Sderot further south. This is only possible now that Beit Hanoun has been leveled.
Israelis across the political spectrum understand the need for security and pushing the Gazans away from Israel’s population centers is a key part in achieving that.
Now that Hamas has nailed the coffin shut on a negotiated agreement, Israel with Trump’s support can reverse the Disengagement’s effects by applying sovereignty to parts of northern Gaza as a beginning step to ending the war in Israel’s favor.
Rafah Included?
Another addition that nay be carried out is applying sovereignty to an expanded Philadelphia Corridor, essentially including must of Gaza’s south into Israel as well. This will prevent it from being handed over to Islamists in the future. This area was key to Hamas’ ability to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Gaza. A permanent Israeli presence would make it virtually impossible for Hamas or any other Islamic group to rearm freely.
Some of the above would explain why both Ministers Ben Gvir and Smotrich are staying in the government despite the large amount of supplies Israel is providing Gaza.
Backing the above up, President Trump has said the following on numerous occasions: “They [Israel] took oceanfront property and they gave it to people for peace. How did that work out? Not good.” Referring to Netanyahu, Trump said he knew that “this man” would never have done it. “He wouldn’t give it up. I know it very well. There’s no way.”
All of this leads to the conclusion that Israel may in fact rebuild parts of Jewish Gaza whether the world likes it or not.
