Thank you for this excellent and informative article. There is indeed a way out of this destructive impasse that the Palestinians are continuing to live through. The UN General Assembly are planning a June Peace Conference to pursue a 2 State Solution. Unfortunately, Israel is continuing to do everything it can to undermine such a proces…
Thank you for this excellent and informative article. There is indeed a way out of this destructive impasse that the Palestinians are continuing to live through. The UN General Assembly are planning a June Peace Conference to pursue a 2 State Solution. Unfortunately, Israel is continuing to do everything it can to undermine such a process and outcome.
Meanwhile, according to this article, “Hamas has repeatedly told U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators it would accept a comprehensive deal that would include the immediate release of all Israeli captives held in Gaza, in return for an end to the war, lifting of the blockade, and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Known as an “all for all” resolution, the plan would also include the release of a large number of Palestinians held by Israel and a long term truce, known in Arabic as a hudna, that would span at least five to ten years.”
“As part of this proposal, Hamas would officially step down as the governing authority in Gaza and allow an independent technical interim body run by Palestinians to administer the territory during a transitional phase of reconstruction ahead of a return to democratic elections. Hamas would still refuse to surrender its weapons unless a Palestinian military force capable of defending Gaza is established.”
So there’s the solution. The Arab States, other supportive governments and the whole international community ought to tell Israel forthright that they need to agree to this proposal as written, except that the security force that replaces Hamas should initially be an international peace keeping force that over time is replaced by Palestinians that is not controlled by Hamas and continues to include an international presence.
In the meantime, both before and after the peace conference, there is plenty that the international community can do to demonstrate to Israel that they are serious and that Israel will have to go along with the proposal. This would include economic sanctions, boycotts, humanitarian convoys that are accompanied by international armed security personnel, the beginning of the effort to create and establish an international peace force, full support for the UNRWA, threat to suspend Israel’s membership in the UN General Assembly (as authorized under the UN Charter), holding an increasing number of Israel’s military and government officials accountable for their actions under international law, etc.
For more details about these suggestions and/or to support my advocacy efforts please write to RobWheeler22@gmail.com
I understand why you purpose an international peacekeeping force instead of Hamas to own Gaza security. However, which country would participate in such a peacekeeping force knowing that these peacekeeping troops would almost certainly be fired upon, even bombed, by the IDF, which would claim this being collateral damage? Only Palestinians themselves, and perhaps the Houthis, are brave enough to stand up to Israel. Let's face the facts.
It would have to be done with the backing of a group of countries (such as the Arab states, a few European, and a couple of others such as South Africa) and be combined with the threat of sanctions, boycotts, possible suspension from UN membership. and certainly Israel being told that the settlements or at least settlers were going to be removed as well, and this Palestijnians given a contiguous area of land in the West Bank etc whether the Israelis like it or not; and that they can either negotiate in good faith and abide by international agreements or instead just live with what is decided for them by others. When the Israelis are told that they have to live with what is forced on them, like they have been doing to the Palestinians for decades, then we will start to see some sanity in the Middle East The US did it to Iraq and Afghanistan, there is no reason that other countries couldn't do it to Israel in order to ensure that they will finally have to abide by international law and a just and moral solution.
Thank you for this excellent and informative article. There is indeed a way out of this destructive impasse that the Palestinians are continuing to live through. The UN General Assembly are planning a June Peace Conference to pursue a 2 State Solution. Unfortunately, Israel is continuing to do everything it can to undermine such a process and outcome.
Meanwhile, according to this article, “Hamas has repeatedly told U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari mediators it would accept a comprehensive deal that would include the immediate release of all Israeli captives held in Gaza, in return for an end to the war, lifting of the blockade, and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Known as an “all for all” resolution, the plan would also include the release of a large number of Palestinians held by Israel and a long term truce, known in Arabic as a hudna, that would span at least five to ten years.”
“As part of this proposal, Hamas would officially step down as the governing authority in Gaza and allow an independent technical interim body run by Palestinians to administer the territory during a transitional phase of reconstruction ahead of a return to democratic elections. Hamas would still refuse to surrender its weapons unless a Palestinian military force capable of defending Gaza is established.”
So there’s the solution. The Arab States, other supportive governments and the whole international community ought to tell Israel forthright that they need to agree to this proposal as written, except that the security force that replaces Hamas should initially be an international peace keeping force that over time is replaced by Palestinians that is not controlled by Hamas and continues to include an international presence.
In the meantime, both before and after the peace conference, there is plenty that the international community can do to demonstrate to Israel that they are serious and that Israel will have to go along with the proposal. This would include economic sanctions, boycotts, humanitarian convoys that are accompanied by international armed security personnel, the beginning of the effort to create and establish an international peace force, full support for the UNRWA, threat to suspend Israel’s membership in the UN General Assembly (as authorized under the UN Charter), holding an increasing number of Israel’s military and government officials accountable for their actions under international law, etc.
For more details about these suggestions and/or to support my advocacy efforts please write to RobWheeler22@gmail.com
Thanks, Rob
I understand why you purpose an international peacekeeping force instead of Hamas to own Gaza security. However, which country would participate in such a peacekeeping force knowing that these peacekeeping troops would almost certainly be fired upon, even bombed, by the IDF, which would claim this being collateral damage? Only Palestinians themselves, and perhaps the Houthis, are brave enough to stand up to Israel. Let's face the facts.
It would have to be done with the backing of a group of countries (such as the Arab states, a few European, and a couple of others such as South Africa) and be combined with the threat of sanctions, boycotts, possible suspension from UN membership. and certainly Israel being told that the settlements or at least settlers were going to be removed as well, and this Palestijnians given a contiguous area of land in the West Bank etc whether the Israelis like it or not; and that they can either negotiate in good faith and abide by international agreements or instead just live with what is decided for them by others. When the Israelis are told that they have to live with what is forced on them, like they have been doing to the Palestinians for decades, then we will start to see some sanity in the Middle East The US did it to Iraq and Afghanistan, there is no reason that other countries couldn't do it to Israel in order to ensure that they will finally have to abide by international law and a just and moral solution.
You described very well why this is never going to happen. :(