Is the United States repeating the “Green Zone” experience in Gaza?
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that preliminary discussions are taking place between the United States and Israel regarding the formation of a temporary U.S.-led administration to govern Gaza the day after the war ends. The plan aims to achieve stability and disarmament, paving the way for the emergence of a sustainable Palestinian administration.
The proposal, still in its early stages, includes establishing a transitional government headed by a U.S. official, supported by unspecified other countries. Palestinian technocrats would be involved, while Hamas and the Palestinian Authority—currently governing the West Bank—would be excluded.
No specific timeline for the temporary administration has been set, as it depends on developments on the ground. Sources compared the proposal to the 2003 Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq and the Green Zone, which faced criticism for being perceived as an “occupying force” and failed to contain insurgencies before power was transferred to the interim Iraqi government in 2004.
Ismail Thawabta, the media director of Hamas’ government in Gaza, rejected the idea outright, affirming that the right to self-determination belongs to the Palestinian people. The plan’s chances of success remain uncertain, given the lack of clarity regarding its mechanisms, key participants, and the risks involved in implementing such a proposal.
