Trump just lately doubled down on his suggestion to “filter out” Gaza’s 2.3 million residents – although he has talked about a determine of 1.5 million – by relocating them to Egypt and Jordan. Given the earlier statements of the extremists in Netanyahu’s shaky coalition, nothing would please them greater than a depopulated and annexed Gaza.
Cairo and Amman, in addition to different Arab international locations, have firmly rejected the thought. Hamas and the enfeebled Palestinian Authority within the West Financial institution have outrightly condemned it.
However Trump has insisted the Egyptian and Jordanian leaders would ultimately come round as a result of the US does loads for them – referring presumably to their dependence on substantial annual American help.
If this plan had been to transpire, it will not solely be a recipe for extra bloodshed and instability within the Center East, but additionally extra betrayal of the Palestinian trigger and the two-state answer by the worldwide group.
Whereas a ray of hope exists for the continuation of the ceasefire and the implementation of the ceasefire’s second stage, it’s nonetheless very doable that Netanyahu will return to army motion to destroy Hamas and annex half or all of Gaza alongside the traces of what Trump has recommended.
The Trump-Netanyahu bond is so sturdy that it might even allow the Israeli chief to declare sovereignty over the West Financial institution.
Given these uncertainties, the third stage of the ceasefire concerning the reconstruction of Gaza, which is estimated to be upwards of US$80 billion, is at this level nothing greater than phrases on a chunk of paper.
Amin Saikal is emeritus professor of Center Jap and Central Asian Research on the Australian Nationwide College, and an adjunct professor of social sciences on the College of Western Australia and the S Rajaratnam College of Worldwide Research in Singapore. This commentary first appeared on The Dialog.
