US could lead post-war Gaza administration amid intensifying Israeli offensive
The US and Israel are engaged in discussions about Washington potentially leading a temporary post-war administration in Gaza, according to five individuals familiar with the matter. Reuters broke the story on Wednesday, saying the talks are still in early stages. The reports came at a time Israel intensified airstrikes across Gaza, with at least 92 people reported dead on May 7 alone. Health officials reported that one strike in central Gaza left at least 33 dead and 86 wounded, warning that the actual death toll could be higher.
The latest proposal envisions a transitional authority led by a US official to govern Gaza until it is demilitarised and a viable Palestinian leadership can take over. The plan appears similar to the US-led provisional administration in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. Independent observers, however, consider that an unmitigated disaster as it could not stop an insurgency, leading Iraq into untold chaos.
Sources indicated that other nations may be invited to participate in the Gaza administration, but key details—including which countries would be involved—remain undecided. The new mechanism would include Palestinian technocrats but will have no role for Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA).
President Donald Trump, who has reportedly backed the idea, suggested in February that Washington could take over Gaza to remove unexploded ordnance, demolish ruined infrastructure and launch a broad economic redevelopment programme to generate jobs and housing. However, the plan lacks a clear timeline and remains contingent on developments on the ground.
Neither side has publicly confirmed the origins of the proposal, and State Department officials have declined to comment on specifics, reiterating Washington’s support for Israel and its desire for peace and the release of hostages. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also refused to comment.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has floated a separate vision involving a temporary international trusteeship, possibly including moderate Arab nations, to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and governance. However, he emphasised that Israel does not wish to control the civil affairs of Gazans and stressed that its priority remains security.
Hamas officials have condemned any foreign-imposed governance, insisting that Gazans must choose their own leadership. The Palestinian Authority has remained silent on the matter.
The UAE, which normalised relations with Israel in 2020, has also proposed an international coalition to manage post-war Gaza. The UAE, however, wants the PA as part of the new setup and also insists on a plausible roadmap to Palestinian statehood. But the Netanyahu government accuses the PA of being hostile to Israeli interests, and has been consistently against the two-state solution.
The potential American role in governing Gaza would mark Washington’s most significant Middle East intervention since Iraq, carrying risks of regional backlash if perceived as an occupying power. Two sources warned that such a move could spark strong opposition from both allies and adversaries in the region.
While some Israeli far-right ministers have openly called for the "voluntary" displacement of Gazans and the rebuilding of Jewish settlements in Gaza, more pragmatic elements in the government are reportedly examining post-war scenarios that do not rely on mass Palestinian migration. Proposals include carving up Gaza into security zones, restricting reconstruction to designated areas and building permanent Israeli military bases.
On May 5, Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet approved “Operation Gideon’s Chariots”, a plan to seize control of Gaza, expel much of its population to the south, and entrust aid distribution to American agencies. Some Israeli officials claim that Trump is unlikely to object to the plan. His upcoming tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE is expected to focus on investment and efforts to normalise Saudi-Israeli relations, rather than resolving the Gaza conflict.
Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff remains involved in peace efforts but is said to be overextended, simultaneously juggling peace efforts in Ukraine and nuclear negotiations with Iran. Meanwhile, the US and Israel continues to negotiate an alternative aid delivery mechanism to bypass Hamas. However, the UN and humanitarian agencies have condemned the proposed scheme, describing it as an Israeli attempt to weaponise aid as part of a broader military strategy.
Adding to doubts over Washington’s capacity to govern Gaza, the Trump administration’s budget and diplomatic staff cuts have weakened its ability to engage in effective regional diplomacy. The State Department is reportedly planning to eliminate the security coordinator role for the West Bank and Gaza, a key position in managing Israeli-Palestinian tensions.
No wonder most seasoned Middle East watchers consider the latest plan to govern Gaza 'dead on arrival'.
Middle East