Bringing Peace and Stability to Gaza: A Plan

Since January of 2024 a plan has been put forward by an organization called Near East Observers. They have been attempting to propose to various national leaders and organizations a solution for the future of Gaza in which it can return to a peaceful status and co-existence with Israel and do so in a manner that would guarantee that HAMAS and no organization would be able to launch attacks against Israel. This plan has been posted on the LinkedIn account of Near East Observers and has been widely available and, in many respects, we have seen elements of the plan, be mentioned in the press as being elements of proposed peace plans.

The plan has long been organized around a peace and stability operation concept in which the US would have reconstruction authority and overall leadership of a multi-national force. The multi-national force would be comprised of the nominated nations of Mongolia, India, and Thailand. These nations would control three evenly distributed zones in Gaza and would be responsible for security in the areas. They would patrol Gaza and would secure the area in both a law enforcement capacity as well as searching for and disarming not only HAMAS but any and all persons not a part of a trained security force. The US and international administration of the region would be conducted from Cyprus with remote control of the forces established in the Strip.

 Near East Observers does not anticipate that Gaza would be violence free in the initial stages and we do anticipate that any peace and stability operation would face continued small acts of violence against it, however, we believe that with a heavily non-white, non-Western force working towards peace and stability the process will be less fraught with violence and will achieve goals in a more timely manner given that India and Thailand do have Muslim adherents and that these could play a leading role in disarmament. This may prove an easier way to increase and sustain mutual trust and allow the process to proceed more smoothly. Mongolia is mentioned here as they have been a great force for peace in many places in the world including Africa and the Middle East. The Mongolian people have helped US forces in Baghdad, in Afghanistan, and, as mentioned, are actively in peacekeeper roles in Africa at present. The aim of the operation would be to build a new, more cooperative Gaza able to live alongside of Israel.

This effort, after the process of reconstruction and stability had been achieved, then pivot into not only these things but also in providing social and educational support for the Strip. This process would not end in a few years, in similar vein to the Mandate System of post-World War One, the forces and political administration would take place until there had been complete assurance and verification that Gaza had not only been disarmed in terms of its citizenry but that arms were only under the control and use of a trained gendarmerie. Ultimate withdrawal could only take place once Gaza and Israel had co-existed side by side in this peace and stability for a period of about 25-years, which is about the period of time required to raise up Gazans who had been educated with a concept of national existence of Israel and its sovereignty and educated with principles which, with a distinct Middle East and culturally acceptable framework, would also help bring Gaza into a more recognizable democratic organization and would keep these principles as deeply embedded cultural values.

These are broad outlines of a greatly detailed plan and includes many more caveats and opportunities. It is offered here because there has long been a belief that it would be a greatly acceptable way of creating peace. It is time that this plan, or one similar to it should be adopted. There was great wisdom adopted by Shlomo, or Solomon, in cutting the baby. Instead of two-sides who are seeking mutually exclusive goals, is there not a way to achieve the obtaining of peace by looking to meet in the middle? There is the ability to adopt a course which brings peace to Gaza and an end to the current conflict while also providing Israel the peace and assurance that it needs to be able to return to peace and assurance that they will not be victimized against by HAMAS.

Near East Observers believes that both the Biden and Trump administrations have fundamentally failed to recognize the complexities and realities of the Middle East and that it takes an organization like Near East Observers to create a balanced and realist plan to address the many challenges and pitfalls of peace in the region. But there is a cold reality, without peace soon, there will only be pieces to be picked up in both Israel and Gaza, and that will be a sad process indeed.