Watan-The Hebrew newspaper “Israel Hayom” revealed that the Israeli War Council recently approved a decision to enlist security personnel from Gaza residents cooperating with the Fatah movement to secure the entry of humanitarian aid into the sector, and prevent the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas from accessing it.
The newspaper stated that Israel coordinated this step with a senior official in the Palestinian Authority, the head of general intelligence, Majid Faraj.
According to Israeli security sources, the individuals to be appointed will only be armed with batons and not firearms. However, reports from Gaza indicate that some of them were killed by Hamas members during their recent infiltration operation, the newspaper said.
In recent weeks, the Israeli War Council has agreed to enlist Gaza residents affiliated with the Fatah movement in the Palestinian Authority to secure the entry of humanitarian aid into the sector and prevent Hamas from accessing any of it.
This step includes security personnel in Gaza associated with Fatah as well as the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
Majid Faraj, the PA man
Israel coordinated this effort with the senior official in the Palestinian Authority, Majid Faraj, the head of the Palestinian Authority’s general intelligence agency.
Last Sunday, these elements affiliated with Fatah secured the entry of trucks loaded with humanitarian aid into the city of Gaza. According to Israeli security sources, the individuals were armed only with batons and not firearms.
However, reports from Gaza indicate that some of them were killed by Hamas members during the operation, the newspaper said. Three weeks ago, journalist Suleiman Maswada reported that in closed discussions, the name Faraj was proposed by Defense Minister Ya’alon as a person who could be temporarily appointed to oversee the civilian life of Gaza residents and secure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Majid Faraj is a close ally of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Neither Hamas nor Fatah
It appears that cooperation with Fatah contradicts statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who repeatedly said that following the current conflict in Gaza, there would be no “Hamastan” or “Fatahstan” ruling the area, according to his claim in reference to Hamas and Fatah.
Netanyahu has ostensibly rejected any entry of the Palestinian Authority into Gaza after the end of hostilities. However, contrary to his public stance, the War Cabinet agreed to recruit Fatah elements in Gaza in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority.
But the fact that Hamas managed to kill some Fatah members who were brought in to secure aid confirms Netanyahu’s claim that as long as Hamas remains in control, it will not be possible to transfer governance in Gaza to any other group.
A security official told Israel Hayom that “Netanyahu opposes Fatah’s entry into Gaza the day after the war, but now the situation is different when the Israeli army is inside the sector. It is better to put local elements at the forefront as a scapegoat to secure the convoys.”
Adding to the contradictions, Defense Minister Ya’alon recently told the expanded War Cabinet that it is necessary to strengthen the rule of local Palestinian elements in Gaza, “even if they occasionally look to Ramallah,” indicating that rule by groups allied with Fatah would be acceptable from an Israeli perspective.
Israel systematically prevents additional cargo convoys from entering Gaza, among other areas in northern Gaza.
Since mid-March, a small number of trucks have been allowed to enter northern Gaza through “Gate 96,” but there is a need for a continuous movement of aid and on a much larger scale to begin addressing the catastrophic hunger problem in the region.
Israel systematically prevents aid convoys from passing into the areas located north of Gaza, where about 300,000 citizens are suffering from famine described by humanitarian organizations as catastrophic.