Former Israeli DM Floats Plan for Gaza Demilitarization

Seeks to Disarm All Gaza Factions in Return for Foreign Aid

Though there doesn’t seem to be much momentum behind it so far, former Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz is floating a proposal for a “endgame” solution to the ongoing Gaza Strip violence that would involve a “demilitarization” deal for the tiny enclave.

The details are pretty broad at this point, but it would seek a disarmament deal for all significant armed factions in the Gaza Strip, and would offer an initiative for some $50 billion in foreign aid.

The big difficulty will be getting the armed factions to agree to this, when they aren’t the ones getting the aid. Rather, the proposal suggests funneling all the aid through the Palestinian Authority.

Some quotes are already emerging spurning this plan, with one of the unnamed leaders saying they don’t want to give up their capabilities to defend Gaza. At the same time, it’s undeniable that they aren’t being effective in such defense, nor is there really a sufficient amount of weaponry the factions could have to realistically deter Israeli invasions.

On the Israeli side, the problem is two-fold: getting the Netanyahu government to stop the offensive and getting them to agree to let large amounts of aid into the strip. So far the indications are they won’t be willing to do either.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.