After fighting Hamas, Israel now considers letting its critics “keep the peace” in Gaza a plan seemingly so ironic it could qualify for UN funding.

The International Force in Gaza – Who’s Bringing the Boots?

So here’s the scenario: Gaza is to get an international “stabilization” or peace-keeping force. According to diplomats, the proposed force will be led by Egypt, expected to recruit troops from, among others including Indonesia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. Meanwhile, the European Union is being urged to play a bigger governance-role in Gaza’s post-war recovery, moving beyond simply humanitarian aid.

But wait: before embracing the idea of “international guardianship,” pause for the irony.

Many of these countries have not exactly been Israel’s best buddies. Egypt has a chilly, complicated relations with Israel; Indonesia doesn’t formally recognize Israel; Turkey has repeatedly slammed Israel’s Gaza policy.

The EU and its member-states have been major funders of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) — despite serious allegations over pay-for-slay, terrorism links and dysfunctional governance. For example, the PA’s “martyrs & prisoners fund” dubbed “pay-to-slay”) remains a thorny issue. The EU promised a €1.6 billion package for the PA in 2025-27 even though many details around reform remain un-resolved.

So what we have is: years of Israeli efforts, countless shekels spent fighting Hamas, only now to apparently welcome countries that have been critical (or worse) of Israel to come in and “babysit” Gaza. More of like spending a decade evicting the lodgers, only to ask your ex-neighbours (who used to help the lodgers) to move in and manage the house. Strange.

And yes some of these “good guys” will be from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, which have recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the PA, and where many in Israel view the PA as just “Hamas lite.” The paradox is clear: Israel rejects Hamas rule in Gaza but now may accept an OIC-country led international force plus a reformed PA “under supervision” to govern Gaza.

Israel’s Relations with These Countries and the Contradictions

Egypt
Despite the 1979........

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