According to the German "Süddeutsche Zeitung" ** on December 2, citing Reuters, sources familiar with the matter revealed that Israel has informed several Arab countries that it plans to establish a buffer zone around the Gaza Strip after the end of the war in the area. Reuters claimed to have learned from Egypt and other countries in the region that the buffer zone would be on the Palestinian side of Gaza's border with Israel.
Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have been notified, and the non-Arab country of Turkey has also been informed of the plan, according to three people familiar with the matter, the report said. Oiffel Falke, a foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told Reuters that the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip was a possible measure.
Israel has previously indicated that it is studying the issue of establishing a buffer zone. According to people familiar with the matter, the plan has now been submitted to the aforementioned countries as part of a future security solution in the Gaza Strip. "Israel wants to establish a buffer zone between the Gaza Strip and Israel from north to south to prevent Hamas or other extremists from infiltrating into Israel or attacking Israel," a senior security guard in the region told Reuters. ”
The Arab countries and Turkey did not comment, the report said. A representative of the United States said that Israel had submitted a buffer zone plan. But he did not say to whom it was submitted. He also reiterated Washington's position against any plan to reduce the size of Palestinian territory.
Speaking to Reuters about the buffer zone, Mr. Falck said the plan was more detailed than the post-war arrangements had been envisaged. The plan envisages a three-phase process that includes the destruction of Hamas, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and the deradicalization of the region. "The buffer zone could be part of the demilitarization process," he said. ”
A senior Israeli security source also said that the issue of the buffer zone was being studied. The extent of the possible buffer zone is not clear, for example, whether it should extend one or two kilometres or hundreds of metres into the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip is about 40 kilometres long and 5 to 12 kilometres wide, and is home to about 2.3 million people. (Compiled by Nie Litao).