US Officials Meet with Palestinian Authority and Arab Nations to Discuss Governance Plans for Post-War Gaza
US officials are collaborating with the Palestinian Authority and Arab nations to devise effective post-war governance strategies for Gaza, highlighting their commitment to long-term stability amid ongoing conflict
US officials are in talks with the Palestinian Authority and regional US allies to develop post-war governance plans for Gaza, shifting their focus beyond the current conflict. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with a delegation of Arab counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, and the Palestinian Authority on Friday afternoon to discuss the future of Gaza following the Israeli offensive.
American officials have expressed their vision of a unified government leading both Gaza and the West Bank, with a revitalized Palestinian Authority at the helm. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has changed his stance on the PA governing Gaza after the Israeli offensive, but there are lingering questions about Gaza's future after the war. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller acknowledged that there will be a transition period where Israeli forces remain in Gaza after combat ends, but that this cannot be a permanent situation.
According to a Western diplomat who spoke with CNN, the Arab delegation has expressed their reluctance to participate in an international security force for Gaza post-war. Additionally, they have emphasized the importance of a clear path towards a Palestinian state if the world expects them to contribute to reconstruction and support for the Palestinian Authority.
Privately, a senior administration official has expressed concern over the reluctance of US Arab allies to participate in a post-war international peacekeeping force, despite their vocal condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza. One Arab ambassador even stated that their country would "absolutely not" deploy their forces in Gaza after the war, in part to avoid appearing as though they are subjugating the Palestinians.
The Biden administration has continuously supported a two-state solution. Last month, Blinken outlined the administration's conditions for "lasting peace and security" in Gaza after the war, which prohibit Israeli re-occupation and territorial reduction. Therefore, the US opposes establishing an Israeli security buffer zone within Gaza after the conflict. Vice President Kamala Harris also addressed post-conflict Gaza during several meetings and calls with Arab leaders last weekend in Dubai, sharing the US expectations for post-conflict planning.
"Harris highlighted three key areas for attention: rebuilding infrastructure in Gaza, strengthening Palestinian Authority security, and rejuvenating PA governance. Additionally, she reaffirmed that a two-state resolution is the most favorable way forward.
Last week, Blinken met with Abbas in Ramallah. This week, Harris' national security adviser, Phil Gordon, conducted further meetings in the West Bank."
"He emphasized our dedication to the eventual creation of a Palestinian state and emphasized the importance of providing the Palestinian people with a positive political future. In line with this goal, Dr. Gordon talked about the rejuvenation of the Palestinian Authority," as stated in a summary from the White House.
This aligns with the messaging from US national security officials regarding Gaza and the PA.
"The leadership decisions ultimately rest with the Palestinian people and themselves. However, there are several key factors that we believe are essential for ensuring that the Palestinian Authority can effectively support the advancement of their people's aspirations and needs," stated Blinken last week.
Last month, Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer emphasized that the PA will need to be involved in any potential governing resolution for both the West Bank and Gaza after the current hostilities - a stance that has been explicitly opposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to a senior administration official speaking to CNN, the reported disagreement between the US and Israel regarding the future role of the Palestinian Authority is exaggerated. The US acknowledges that the current weakened state of the PA may make it unable to govern Gaza, but they believe that a "revitalized" PA, possibly with new leadership, could be a viable solution.
Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh of the Palestinian Authority stated to Bloomberg that he envisions a potential role for Hamas in governing Gaza in the future, a proposal that Israel strongly opposes as their goal is to eliminate the group. US officials have emphasized that a return to the "status quo" before October 7 is not an option. Additionally, a Western diplomat informed CNN that many Arab partners also oppose the idea of Hamas maintaining control in Gaza.
There are doubts about the feasibility of such an arrangement, given the long-standing animosity between Hamas in Gaza and its rival, Fatah, which controls the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. Past attempts to unite the two Palestinian territories under one governance structure have been unsuccessful. However, in October 2017, Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo under pressure from Arab states, led by Egypt. The agreement aimed to establish a new unity government to take administrative control of Gaza, ending a decade-long rivalry that began with Hamas displacing the Palestinian Authority in 2007.
The ambitious plans fell apart quickly as Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah's visit to Gaza in March 2018 was marred by an assassination attempt. A bomb detonated near his convoy, leading Hamdallah's Fatah party to accuse Hamas of orchestrating the attack.
This report includes contributions from CNN's Natasha Bertrand and Oren Liebermann.
