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Hamas Exploiting Gaza Power Vacuum, Security Establishment Fears

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Security officials warn Hamas is exploiting a governance vacuum in Gaza to re-establish its power while the IDF is focused on the northern front.
  • Israel anticipates opposing the Palestinian technocratic government's initiatives, fearing Hamas will regain control of key power centers.
  • A "Rafah First" initiative aims to make Rafah a demilitarized, terror-free zone, but challenges arise from Hamas's resistance and difficulty in applying leverage.

Security officials are warning that Hamas is exploiting the current governance vacuum in Gaza to re-establish its power, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preoccupied with the northern front in Lebanon. Israeli officials anticipate actively opposing the Palestinian technocratic government's initiatives in the strip, fearing Hamas will ultimately regain control over key power centers.

it is impossible to take a step forward

— security officialSummarizing Israel's current strategic deadlock in Gaza.

One security official described Israel's strategic deadlock, stating it is "impossible to take a step forward" without increasing threats to the country. The technocratic government, working with Board of Peace Director-General Nickolay Mladenov, is promoting a "Rafah First" initiative. This strategy aims to transform Rafah into a demilitarized, terror-free zone, allowing for the resettlement of a population that has undergone security vetting to ensure no Hamas elements remain.

I am aware that there is talk about rehabilitating the Gaza Strip, and infrastructure, roads, and building tenders have gone out to contractors. Trump's original plan speaks of Rafah first. Meaning that, even then, they designated Rafah as the first location, where everything would begin.

— defense officialDiscussing the 'Rafah First' initiative and reconstruction plans for Gaza.

Defense officials have acknowledged discussions about rehabilitating Gaza's infrastructure, with tenders already issued to contractors. The "Rafah First" plan designates the area as the starting point for reconstruction. However, this will only proceed after verification that the area is completely demilitarized and cleared of weaponry. Subsequently, the population would move in, gradually clearing more areas.

But this will happen only after we have verified that the area is completely demilitarized and completely cleared of any weaponry. Then rehabilitation will begin there, and slowly the population will move, and that is how we will clear more and more areas.

— defense officialOutlining the conditions for rehabilitation and population resettlement in Rafah.

A significant problem has emerged due to on-the-ground dynamics, with one official noting, "Hamas is dragging its feet, and the US is finding it difficult to apply leverage on it." Following this difficulty, discussions are shifting towards rehabilitating Rafah and relocating the population without the essential condition of demilitarizing the strip and dismantling Hamas's weapons.

Hamas is dragging its feet, and the US is finding it difficult to apply leverage on it.

— officialExplaining the difficulties in applying leverage on Hamas regarding Gaza's future.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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