US plans for Hamas-free “Green zone” in Gaza: report

• The US is pushing a new strategy to create "secure, Hamas-free" residential communities ("green zones") in the ‘Israeli’-occupied half of the Gaza Strip.
• The plan aims to attract Palestinian civilians away from Hamas-controlled areas dubbed as "red zones" by allegedly offering better living standards and exclusive access to international reconstruction funds.

The United States is pushing forward with initiatives to create a “secure, Hamas-free area” in the territory occupied by ‘Israel’ in the Gaza Strip.

American officials are focusing on building new communities designed to attract Palestinian civilians away from regions still under Hamas influence, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The report highlights how US engineers are actively involved in planning these new settlements in what is being termed a "green zone."

This area encompasses approximately half of Gaza that remains under ‘Israeli’ military control, where development and infrastructure projects can proceed without Hamas.

According to details outlined in the report, the US strategy includes marking Gaza's divisions clearly: zones controlled by Hamas would be designated as "red," indicating restricted access and limited reconstruction aid, while ‘Israeli’-held areas are labeled "green," open for investment and rebuilding.

Photo: Hebrew news outlet YNET 

The planning process involves deploying American engineering teams to conduct site surveys and initiate clearances for construction.

These efforts are part of a larger plan that aims to dislodge Hamas, as envisioned in US President Donald Trump's 20-point “peace plan”. However, these may not be feasible short term.

Instead, the focus is shifting toward creating alternatives that could gradually undermine Hamas's support base by offering better living standards elsewhere, according to the report.

Fragile Truce 

Background to this plan stems from the fragile ceasefire established earlier this year, which has seen the return of remaining captives and the withdrawal of some ‘Israeli’ forces from certain areas.

However, Gaza remains effectively partitioned along a line that separates ‘Israeli’-controlled northern sections from the Hamas-dominated south, often referred to in reports as the "yellow line."

The US is advocating for an international stabilization force to “provide security”. A UN Security Council resolution, backed by the US, has authorized such a force.

Critics argue that this approach could entrench a long-term division of Gaza, leaving the red zones in a state of neglect and potentially exacerbating humanitarian crises there.

The timeline for implementation is unclear so far, with initial site preparations already underway.

American teams are coordinating with ‘Israeli’ authorities to identify suitable locations for the new communities, prioritizing areas with access to water and power resources.

Economic incentives are also part of the package, with potential international funding directed exclusively to the green zone to allegedly spur job creation and development projects.