"Peace Council" Plans to Establish a Humanitarian Pilot Zone in Southern Gaza

SadaNews - A spokesperson for the Peace Council, established by U.S. President Donald Trump, confirmed the intention to set up a humanitarian pilot zone in southern Gaza aimed at accommodating tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians who will undergo security vetting.

The official explained that this area could serve as a "launching point" for the Palestinian technocratic committee that is expected to manage the day-to-day affairs of Gaza during the transitional post-war phase, according to Trump's 20-point plan.

The official added: "There is a pilot project that we are studying specifically, which may provide the national committee managing Gaza with a starting point, and it could allow tens of thousands to voluntarily relocate to this area if they wish, subsequently granting them space to exercise actual governance, while the committee will manage administrative affairs."

According to the official, multinational forces from the International Stability Force (ISF), an emerging body working under the auspices of the Peace Council, will secure the area that the council is considering establishing in Rafah in southern Gaza.

The national committee for the management of Gaza, comprising Palestinian technocrats created by the Peace Council, will oversee security vetting and regulate access to the area, supported by the International Stability Force.

The official, requesting anonymity, stated that "access to and from the area will remain freely available to all unarmed civilians."

Efforts to advance the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan in Gaza have stalled for months, and the national committee for the management of Gaza remains in Cairo, unable to enter the strip so far.

Since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October, Israeli forces have expanded their presence within Gaza, now controlling over 60 percent of its territory.

The idea of establishing closed humanitarian zones, which has been discussed in various forms over the past months, has raised concerns.

Diplomats and officials from non-governmental organizations working in Gaza, speaking to the French Press Agency on the condition of anonymity, expressed that this mechanism appears incompatible with international humanitarian law.

They emphasized that gathering civilians in specified areas, subject to controlled access, may rise to the level of forced displacement of populations, restrict Palestinians' freedom of movement, and undermine the principle of humanitarian neutrality.

Although the council is considering establishing the project in Rafah, according to the official, the exact site has not yet been determined, and construction work has not yet begun.

Rafah is located in the southernmost part of Gaza and has suffered extensive destruction during the war due to Israeli bombardment, and the region is now largely under Israeli military control.

The official added that the site of the International Stability Force's deployment will act as a "buffer zone" separating Palestinian populations from Israeli forces.

The official clarified: "A security vetting mechanism will ensure that armed individuals or fighters do not enter these safe humanitarian zones."

The official noted that "the Israeli army will not undertake this task, nor will it have any interaction with the civilian population or any role in isolating these areas from the rest of Gaza."

The Peace Council was officially announced earlier this year as part of the U.S.-backed ceasefire plan in Gaza, which was endorsed by the UN Security Council.

The council aims to end Hamas's management of the strip, support civil administration, and restore essential services.