Israeli Cabinet Approves the Entry of the "Peace Council" and International Forces into Gaza Strip

SadaNews - The Israeli Security Cabinet (the cabinet) approved the entry of the "Peace Council" and international forces into the Gaza Strip this evening, Sunday, during a meeting where it endorsed a plan to launch a pilot phase in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza. This phase includes the rehabilitation of essential services, the entry of aid, and the establishment of temporary housing in areas not controlled by Hamas, to be managed by a Palestinian technocratic committee, supported by a multinational force.

According to reports by the newspapers "Yedioth Ahronoth" and "Israel Hayom" and the channel "i24NEWS" on Sunday, this plan was prepared by the so-called "Peace Council".

The plan involves launching a pilot project in Rafah over the coming weeks to resume essential services, provide humanitarian aid, and create temporary buildings to house Palestinians in areas controlled by the Israeli army that are not managed by Hamas.

Reports claimed that Palestinians wishing to move to these areas will undergo strict vetting procedures to ensure they are not affiliated with Hamas, without clarifying which entity will carry out the vetting or the criteria that will be used.

According to the plan, the first area to be managed by the so-called "Palestinian Technocratic Committee," formed under the plans of U.S. President Donald Trump, will be supported by the "International Stability Force".

The reports indicated that the success of the pilot phase in Rafah would allow for the expansion of the model to other areas in the Strip, without disclosing the nature of the powers that will be granted to the administrative body or the fate of the residents in the targeted areas.

"Israel Hayom" noted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to push steps regarding the future of the Gaza Strip ahead of his anticipated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

It added that cabinet ministers will be asked to express their positions on the proposal of the "Peace Council", and possibly approve it, while the full text of the proposal or its executive details have not been revealed.

"i24NEWS" reported that the general director of the "Peace Council", Nikolai Mladenov, and Trump’s special envoy, Aryeh Lightstone, met Netanyahu and Israeli officials last week, briefing them on the progress of talks held in Cairo and the next steps for the Council.

The channel quoted a spokesperson for the "Peace Council" as saying that the meetings were "useful and productive", without providing additional details about their outcomes or the parties involved in the talks in Cairo.

The discussion of the plan comes at a time when Israel continues its attacks in the Gaza Strip, despite a ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, amid repeated targeting of elements and leaders in the police and internal security apparatus.

The Ministry of Interior and National Security in Gaza announced on Sunday that the Israeli army assassinated the director of internal security in the central governorate, Colonel Wael Mousa al-Ladawi,41 years old, and Major Ramez Tawfiq Abu Zrayq, 49 years old, after targeting their vehicle in the city of Deir al-Balah.

The Ministry had announced on Saturday the assassination of the police chief of North Gaza Governorate, Brigadier General Abdul Nasser Muhammad al-Maqadma, following his targeting in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in the northwest of Gaza City.

On July 14 of this year, the Israeli army targeted the police station in Jabaliya camp, resulting in the martyrdom of seven officers and police personnel, including the head of the station and his deputy.

The Ministry stated that 53 leaders, officers, and personnel of the police have been martyred in direct targeting of police headquarters, patrols, and their vehicles since the beginning of the ceasefire agreement.

The Ministry considered that the targeting of the police apparatus aims to "spread chaos in the Gaza Strip", calling on mediating countries and the international community to pressure Israel to stop the targeting, asserting that it is a civilian apparatus that works to maintain security and manage the affairs of the population.

Palestinians describe the ceasefire agreement as formal, in light of the ongoing Israeli bombardment and the closure of crossings, except for the entry of limited amounts of aid, exacerbating the humanitarian situation for about 2.4 million Palestinians in the Strip.

According to the data provided, the continuous Israeli attacks since the onset of the ceasefire have resulted in the martyrdom of 1,200 Palestinians and the injury of 3,888 others, most of whom are children and women, alongside the persistent widespread destruction throughout the sector.