In Washington, Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented a compelling argument on Tuesday for a strategic plan aimed at the post-war reconstruction and governance of Gaza. This comes at a pivotal moment as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to be within reach. Blinken highlighted the significance of this plan, which has been under development for the past year, during his address at the Atlantic Council, a think tank in the nation’s capital.
Blinken emphasized the responsibility to maintain the strategic achievements made over the last 15 months and to build a more promising future. He cautioned that history in the Middle East often repeats itself, leading to situations where one authoritarian leader is replaced by another or rampant turmoil ensues. “We must lay the groundwork for a better outcome,” he stated.
The proposed framework, which Blinken has mentioned previously, involves the Palestinian Authority reaching out to “international partners” to create an interim governance structure responsible for essential services and administration in the region. He noted that support from Arab nations would be vital for establishing short-term security operations in Gaza.
Furthermore, the security initiative is expected to align with a pathway toward an independent Palestinian state that would unify both Gaza and the West Bank. Blinken described this mission’s goal as creating a safe environment for humanitarian efforts and reconstruction while addressing border security challenges. However, the concept of a Palestinian state has been a contentious issue, with opposition from Israel persistently complicating the matter.
The United States is also planning to spearhead a new project’s initiative to train and equip a security force from Gaza that would ultimately replace the interim governance structure. This Palestinian-led force would focus on restoring law and order after the leadership transition.
Despite months of diplomatic efforts, Blinken and his senior advisors have faced various hurdles while trying to win over key stakeholders, including Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Gulf Arab nations. Their efforts have mainly centered around diverse governance approaches for Gaza, which has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict that erupted in October 2023 following a Hamas incursion into Israel.
Initially, there was significant pushback; Israel was hesitant about full withdrawals from Gaza, while Arab nations insisted upon securing a ceasefire before engaging in discussions regarding the future governance of the territory. However, through several diplomatic missions to the region beginning in January, Blinken was able to obtain some level of support from the Gulf Arab states, many of whom are anticipated to finance reconstruction efforts.
During his speech, Blinken encountered interruptions from protesters, who accused him of complicity in what they regarded as Israeli war crimes. The protests, although brief, included chants labeling him as a “secretary of genocide,” and asserting demands for accountability in the face of American arms shipments to Israel. Undeterred, Blinken continued his address.
In his remarks, Blinken called out Israel for not doing enough to mitigate violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and for withholding tax funds belonging to the Palestinian Authority. He also urged the PA to adhere to necessary reforms it has recently begun to embrace after years of resistance.
“The PA must implement rapid and expansive reforms to create a system of governance that is more transparent and accountable, continuing the improvements initiated last year,” he urged. He added that Israel must be willing to facilitate the unification of Gaza under the management of a reformed Palestinian Authority.
Blinken then shifted focus to other facets of the U.S. policy in the Middle East, highlighting the successful collaboration among nations in defending Israel from unprecedented missile threats posed by Iran. He reiterated a commitment shared across multiple U.S. administrations from both political parties to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.
Touching upon the normalization discourse between Israel and Saudi Arabia, Blinken conveyed that establishing relations serves as a motivating factor for both parties to make difficult choices necessary to fulfill the aims of both Israelis and Palestinians. He noted that a substantial amount of groundwork for normalization has already been accomplished, suggesting the formation of a U.S.-Saudi strategic partnership to cement Saudi Arabia as a formal ally while nurturing civil nuclear cooperation. Nevertheless, he warned that without progress on Gaza and the prospect of a Palestinian state, normalization efforts might stall.
The urgency to keep the post-conflict plan for Gaza alive intensified following the victory of President-elect Donald Trump in November. U.S. officials have sought to include Trump’s advisors in ongoing conversations to garner their support, as significant involvement from the U.S. will be crucial during Trump’s presidency.
Concerns arose regarding the potential abandonment of the plan by Trump’s administration, drawing parallels to the previous disregard shown by former President George W. Bush’s team towards a U.S.-promoted strategy for Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, which had been devised during Bill Clinton’s administration.
