Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Israeli media outlets have reported that the second phase of the U.S.-led plan for Gaza’s post-war administration includes dividing the territory into two distinct zones as a prelude to a large-scale reconstruction process. The proposal, which has not been officially confirmed by Washington, reportedly aims to create separate areas under differing security and political arrangements in an effort to stabilize the enclave after two years of devastating conflict.
According to the reports, the proposed division would establish a western zone, located behind what Israeli sources refer to as the “yellow line,” that would remain under the governance of Hamas. This area would not be included in the initial reconstruction phase, and would continue to receive only limited humanitarian assistance.
The eastern zone, stretching beyond the same line, would fall under Israeli security oversight with the participation of international forces, reportedly including contingents from countries such as Indonesia. This area would undergo extensive reconstruction, with Gaza residents allowed to relocate there from territories still controlled by Hamas.
Israeli media added that the so-called “State of East Gaza” would be subdivided into five administrative districts, with the first pilot reconstruction projects expected to begin in Rafah, in the southern part of the Strip.
However, the Wall Street Journal earlier reported that several Arab nations have expressed firm opposition to any plan that would divide Gaza into separate zones, warning that such an approach could leave parts of the territory under permanent Israeli control, a scenario viewed as politically and morally unacceptable by most regional actors.
Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo on Friday issued a joint statement following consultations hosted by Egyptian officials, emphasizing their support for the ongoing implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the need to form a unified national stance toward current political and reconstruction developments.
An unnamed senior Arab official told reporters that the proposed territorial division remains a preliminary idea, and that alternative plans are expected to be presented in the coming days.
The developments follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on October 9 that Israel and Hamas had agreed to implement the first phase of what he described as a “comprehensive peace plan” designed to end the two-year-long war in Gaza.
The Trump plan reportedly consists of 20 key points, including an immediate ceasefire conditioned on the release of all captives within 72 hours. It also stipulates that neither Hamas nor any other Palestinian faction would participate in governing Gaza, which would instead be administered by a technocratic authority under international supervision, overseen directly by the U.S. President.
Under the first stage of the agreement, Hamas released 20 Israeli captives held since October 7, 2023, believed to be the last surviving hostages, while Israel freed 1,968 Palestinian prisoners, including 1,718 from Gaza and 250 serving life or long-term sentences, who were transferred to other Palestinian territories.
While the proposed division of Gaza remains speculative, it reflects ongoing international debates over how to manage post-war recovery in the enclave balancing security concerns, humanitarian needs, and the deep political sensitivities surrounding Gaza’s future governance.
