For weeks, drafts of a US-backed Gaza peace plan have circulated in Middle Eastern capitals. The leaders of key regional countries felt confident about its contents even hours before it was released on Tuesday.
And yet, when US President Donald Trump unveiled his 20-point plan, those same leaders were caught off-guard by major differences between the initial drafts and the final version, several regional sources told Middle East Eye.
The most surprising changes concerned the number of Palestinians set to be released as part of the deal, and the phased approach to the Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave.
According to the sources, Trump appeared to have adjusted the plan to align more closely with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wishes.
Where previously hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were to have been released alongside 1,700 men, women and children detained from Gaza, now just 250 inmates would be freed with the detainees.
Original drafts mandated 600 aid trucks entering Gaza per day, while the new version’s vague language afforded no such commitment.
There were changes, too, to what had been agreed on governance: Gaza would be run by a “Board of Peace”, to be led by Trump and former British prime minister Tony Blair, that cut out international consultation.
Meanwhile, the “International Stabilisation Force” (ISF) that was slated to train Palestinian police to take over security suddenly had expanded powers that suggested increased Israeli control.
Not only was the Israeli troop withdrawal staggered without clear deadlines, the addition of a “security zone” around the perimeter appeared to signal the prospect of a permanent presence within Gaza.
“ Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and others had specific objections, especially concerning the creation of the international force,” one regional source told MEE.
“But those same countries also believe they secured key concessions, such as Trump’s refusal to recognise Israeli annexation of the West Bank and a US commitment that Palestinians will be allowed to remain in Gaza. Israel also agreed, under the plan, not to permanently occupy the Strip.”
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/key-middle-eastern-leaders-shocked-israeli-rewrite-gaza-plan-still-back-it
Too many loose ends like most of Trump's. |
