Secretary of State Antony Blinken provided a comprehensive overview of his anticipated plans for post-war Gaza on Tuesday, emphasizing the necessity of preventing a power vacuum in the devastated region.
In a speech at the Atlantic Council, Blinken outlined the “core elements” of his strategy just days before concluding his tenure as the top US diplomat. He indicated that these plans would be passed on to the incoming Trump administration, although there is no indication that the new team intends to implement them.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has persisted for over a year, resulting in more than 46,000 fatalities in the besieged area, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry. A significant portion of those deceased are women and children, while recent efforts to secure a ceasefire and a hostage agreement have begun to show promise. Blinken expressed hope on Tuesday that such an agreement is “ready to be concluded and implemented” if Hamas agrees.
In what may be his last public address as secretary of state, Blinken aimed to defend the Biden administration’s approach to Gaza, which has faced intense scrutiny from some Democratic lawmakers, current and former US officials, and human rights organizations that accuse Israel of committing genocide. Both the Biden administration and the Israeli government have dismissed these claims.
In a speech frequently disrupted by protestors labeling him “bloody Blinken,” the leading US diplomat recognized the significant rifts regarding the administration’s stance on Gaza, stating, “I wish I could stand here today and assure you that we made every decision correctly. I cannot.”
Upcoming Difficult Choices
“I wish I could assure you that regional leaders consistently prioritize their people’s needs over their own. They have not,” Blinken remarked, emphasizing the necessity for effective plans for the future.
He indicated that these plans would demand “all parties to demonstrate the political resolve to make tough choices and compromises,” which includes reforms from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Israeli government’s acceptance of eventual PA governance over a unified Palestinian state.
The State Department has been collaborating with partners for several months to formulate a post-conflict plan addressing security, governance, and reconstruction in Gaza, asserting that the international community cannot afford to delay such preparations until a ceasefire is achieved.
In the immediate aftermath of the conflict, “we believe the Palestinian Authority should invite international partners to assist in establishing and managing an interim administration responsible for essential civil sectors in Gaza, such as banking, water, energy, health, and civil coordination with Israel,” Blinken explained. “The international community would offer funding, technical assistance, and oversight.”
Blinken indicated that the interim administration would consist of Palestinians from Gaza alongside members of the Palestinian Authority (PA). He stated that they would “transfer full responsibility to a fully reformed PA administration as soon as it is practical.”
The administrators would collaborate closely with a senior UN official tasked with overseeing the international stabilization and recovery efforts, according to Blinken.
He elaborated that “an interim security mission would comprise personnel from partner nation security forces and vetted Palestinian individuals. Its duties would involve establishing a secure environment for humanitarian and reconstruction initiatives and ensuring border security, which is vital to preventing smuggling that could enable Hamas to restore its military capabilities.”
Blinken also mentioned plans to initiate a program aimed at training, equipping, and vetting a PA-led security force for Gaza, which would focus on maintaining law and order and gradually assume responsibilities from the interim security mission. He emphasized that “these arrangements would be formalized in a UN Security Council Resolution.”
Path to a Palestinian state
Regarding the path to a Palestinian state, Blinken noted that while he did not specify particular countries, “some of our partners have already shown a willingness to provide troops and police for such a mission, but only if it is agreed that Gaza and the West Bank will be unified under a reformed PA as part of a pathway to an independent Palestinian state.”
Blinken emphasized that the process must be both “time-bound” and “conditions-based,” asserting that these principles are interdependent.
“Time-bound, as an endless process will not be credible or acceptable,” he stated. “Conditions-based because while Palestinians have the right to self-determination, this right comes with responsibilities. It is unreasonable to expect Israel to accept a Palestinian state governed by Hamas or other extremist groups.”
The leading US diplomat highlighted the potential of the elusive Israel-Saudi normalization agreement as “the best opportunity to achieve the long-desired goal of Israel’s deeper integration into the region, and it serves as the strongest incentive for the parties to make the difficult decisions necessary to fulfill the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians.”
Blinken acknowledged the extremism of far-right Israeli leaders such as Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, stating that “Israelis must let go of the notion that they can pursue de-facto annexation without repercussions for Israel’s democracy, its international standing, and its security.”
“We genuinely hope that the parties will be willing to make difficult choices moving forward; however, the undeniable reality is that thus far, they have either failed to make these tough decisions or acted in ways that have pushed a deal and lasting peace further out of reach,” he added.
Israel’s government has consistently weakened the capacity and legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority, which is the only viable alternative to Hamas, Blinken stated. He emphasized that Israel continues to withhold tax revenues collected on behalf of the Palestinians, funds that are essential for the Palestinian Authority to provide critical services such as healthcare and security in the West Bank, which are also crucial for Israel’s own security.
Furthermore, Blinken noted that Israel is accelerating the expansion of official settlements and the nationalization of land at an unprecedented rate, while ignoring the significant increase in illegal outposts. He pointed out that violent incidents involving extremist settlers against Palestinian civilians have reached alarming levels.
Blinken highlighted that the United States has communicated to the Israeli government that defeating Hamas cannot rely solely on military action. He stressed the necessity of a clear alternative, a post-conflict strategy, and a credible political pathway for the Palestinians; otherwise, Hamas or a similarly dangerous entity will inevitably resurface.
He remarked that this situation has already manifested in northern Gaza since October 7, where each time Israel concludes its military operations and withdraws, Hamas militants regroup and reappear due to the absence of any alternative. He further assessed that Hamas has managed to recruit nearly as many new militants as it has lost, creating a situation conducive to a lasting insurgency and ongoing conflict.
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