The US is planning for the long-term division of Gaza into a \u201cgreen zone\u201d under Israeli and international military control, where reconstruction would start, and a \u201cred zone\u201d to be left in ruins.<\/p>\n
Foreign forces will initially deploy alongside Israeli soldiers in the east of Gaza<\/a>, leaving the devastated strip divided by the current Israeli-controlled \u201cyellow line\u201d, according to US military planning documents seen by the Guardian and sources briefed on American plans.<\/p>\n \u201cIdeally you would want to make it all whole, right? But that\u2019s aspirational,\u201d said a US official, speaking on condition of anonymity. \u201cIt\u2019s going to take some time. It\u2019s not going to be easy.\u201d<\/p>\n Red and green zones map<\/a><\/p>\n The US military plans raise serious questions about Washington\u2019s commitment to turning the ceasefire announced last month into an enduring political settlement with Palestinian rule across Gaza, which was promised by Donald Trump.<\/p>\n Plans for Gaza\u2019s future have been shifting at a dizzying rate, reflecting a chaotic, improvised approach to resolving one of the world\u2019s most complex and intractable conflicts and providing aid including food and shelter to 2 million Palestinians.<\/p>\n After weeks in which the US promoted reconstruction in the form of fenced-in camps for small groups of Palestinians, referred to as \u201calternative safe communities\u201d (ASC), those plans were dropped this week, the US official said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a snapshot of a concept that was put forth at a certain time,\u201d the US official said. \u201cThey\u2019ve already moved on from that.\u201d<\/p>\n Humanitarian organisations who have repeatedly raised major concerns about the ASC model said on Friday they had yet to be notified of the change of plans.<\/p>\n Without a workable plan for an international peacekeeping force, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and large-scale rebuilding, Gaza risks slipping into limbo after two years of devastating war.<\/p>\n Machinery operates next to a Red Cross vehicle at an area within the \u2018yellow line\u2019 to which Israeli troops withdrew under the ceasefire. Photograph: Dawoud Abu Alkas\/Reuters<\/p>\n Mediators have warned<\/a> of a situation that is \u201cnot war but not peace\u201d in a divided Gaza, with regular Israeli attacks, an entrenched occupation, no Palestinian self-rule and limited reconstruction of Palestinian homes and communities.<\/p>\n The creation of an international stabilisation force (ISF) underpins Trump\u2019s 20-point \u201cpeace plan\u201d. The US hopes a draft UN security council resolution giving the force a formal mandate will pass early next week and expects firm details of troop commitments to follow.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first step is we have to get the [resolution],\u201d the US official said. \u201cCountries are not going to make firm commitments until they actually see the language that has been passed.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump has ruled out putting any US soldiers on the ground to pave the way for an Israeli withdrawal, or funding reconstruction. \u201cThe US has been very clear they want to set the vision and not pay for it,\u201d said one diplomatic source.<\/p>\n