What does Israel and the US want to do with Gaza after Hamas is gone?

The United States and Israel have been brainstorming over the future of the Gaza Strip, if and when they manage to kick Hamas out of the region. These early-stage discussions might just be the prelude to Gaza's uncertain future amid its ravaged landscape.

What

The United States and Israel have reportedly initiated discussions about the future of the Gaza Strip, in the event of Hamas being ousted from power. While these discussions are in their early stages and may undergo changes, several potential options have been explored.

Options

1. One potential approach involves the deployment of a multinational force, which could include American troops, should Israeli forces successfully remove Hamas from power. This option is motivated by the goal of preventing a return to the status quo with Hamas governing Gaza.
2. A second option under consideration is the establishment of a peacekeeping force, modeled after the one overseeing the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty. This approach would aim to ensure stability in the region after Hamas's removal. 
3. A third option discussed is to place Gaza under temporary United Nations oversight. This would grant the endeavor legitimacy through the UN, but it's considered impractical by Israel, which has reservations about the effectiveness of UN involvement.

American and Israeli responses

• US President Joe Biden is cautious about the idea of putting American troops in harm's way, as it carries political risks.
• Arab states' participation in any potential solution is uncertain, as they might be reluctant to engage in counterinsurgency operations against Palestinians.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged the need for addressing the Gaza situation and emphasized that it cannot return to the previous state with Hamas in control.
• And Israel in turn also does not seem keen on taking on long-term responsibility for Gaza either.

The path to achieving this outcome is unclear, especially given Israel's expectation that its military operation could extend over several months, resulting in a buffer zone around Gaza.

US's peacekeeping past

The last time the United States installed a proxy government in war-ravaged land after the Gulf invasions was in Iraq. 

• Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the US established a provisional government led by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), which was effectively a US occupation authority. 
• This transition to a new government faced significant challenges, including political instability, sectarian violence, and insurgency.
• The post-invasion period in Iraq was marked by a power vacuum and tensions between various religious and ethnic groups. 

The US faced difficulties in establishing a stable and functioning government, and the ensuing years witnessed significant violence and instability in Iraq, with the rise of extremist groups and a protracted insurgency.

Some of those that operated in Iraq during that period include:

• Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI): Led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, AQI was a branch of Al-Qaeda that operated in Iraq. It was responsible for numerous acts of violence, including bombings and attacks against Iraqi civilians, security forces, and international targets.
• Islamic State of Iraq (ISI): AQI later rebranded itself as the Islamic State of Iraq, led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. ISI continued its campaign of violence, aiming to establish an Islamic state in Iraq.
• Jaysh al-Mahdi (Mahdi Army): Led by Muqtada al-Sadr, this Shiite militia group was involved in sectarian violence and clashes with US and coalition forces.
• Ansar al-Islam: This group had connections to Al-Qaeda and was active in the Kurdish areas of northern Iraq.

The situation in Iraq underscores the complexities associated with installing a proxy government in the aftermath of a massacre on the scale of Gaza. The repercussions of the Gulf invasions serve as a cautionary example of the difficulties in achieving stability and governance in such scenarios.

So far however, the White House has said the US has