‘Rafah Green Zone,’ ‘New Gaza’ Projects Stir Questions
New names, including Rafah Green Zone and New Gaza, have emerged over the past two days, at a time when the move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip is stalling.
The agreement is brokered by the United States with Arab, international and United Nations support.
Hebrew media reported that the Israeli government yielded to a United States decision and allowed the army to begin field work east of Rafah to build a new city called Rafah Green Zone.
The initial preparations include bringing in heavy engineering equipment to clear rubble and prepare the land.
According to Hebrew media reports, Israel tried for weeks to delay these works, arguing that they were part of the second phase, which has not yet begun. But under United States pressure it was forced to start preparing for the next stage of the plan.
The works include creating a humanitarian zone and a new city east of Rafah on land under Israeli control. Washington wants to use this step to present Palestinians with a model for building a City of Hope, offering them a vision of a new Gaza that is vibrant and modern, in contrast to the old Gaza that is destroyed and bleak under Hamas control.
But Israel objected. Advancing the second phase, it argued, would lead to the reopening of the Rafah crossing, force a new withdrawal from other parts of Gaza and allow Arab and international forces to deploy there.
These countries have held back from sending troops because of the Israeli occupation and what they described as its impossible demands.
Israel’s Channel 12 said Washington accused Israel of stalling and blamed it for countries pulling back from joining the multinational force. Israel then reversed course and agreed to start building the new city.
