Israel would like to create a "buffer zone" in the Gaza Strip along the border after the end of the current escalation in the Middle East. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) with reference to Israeli and American officials.
Read also the hospital tour and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Conflict in the Middle EastWSJ: Israel wants to create a buffer zone in Gaza after the end of the conflict
As the interlocutors of the publication pointed out, Israel does not intend to occupy the enclave, and this zone belonging to the Palestinian side will become a "no man's land" on which Palestinians will be banned from living. According to the newspaper, such a plan may not appeal to Israel's closest ally in the face of the United States, and it is unclear how Washington will react to it.
Discontent may be caused by the fact that such a plan will restrict the access of Palestinians to their territory, although "technically" the area of the enclave will not be reduced, writes the WSJ. Earlier, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the publication recalls, warned that the United States does not accept the reduction of Palestinian-owned territory.
Sources of the publication noted that the administration of US President Joe Biden is trying to convince the Prime Minister of the Jewish state, Benjamin Netanyahu, to take steps to prevent further escalation and reduce civilian casualties, but this increases disagreements between the allies. Recently, the interlocutors of the publication pointed out, Israel "has demonstrated the ability to carry out more targeted strikes," which allegedly indicates a "certain success" of American influence. However, the Biden administration, the newspaper writes, has not yet managed to convince Israel of the need for a long humanitarian pause that would allow the release of more hostages.
Earlier, the WSJ, citing Egyptian officials, reported that the radical Palestinian movement Hamas may agree to the release of 50 women and children, provided that Israel agrees to a five-day cease-fire. On the night of November 19, The Washington Post reported, citing sources, that the United States, Israel and Hamas are close to concluding an agreement on a five-day pause in the fighting and the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Later, the head of the press service of the White House National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, denied this information.
