JERUSALEM
European countries Germany, France and Britain have presented Israel with an initiative for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip within a mechanism that ushers in international supervision in this regard and prevents the rearmament of the Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas and other factions as well.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted unnamed Israeli sources as saying that the initiative was proposed by the three European states upon a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the aim of disarming Hamas.
The sources told the newspaper that representatives from the three countries met in Jerusalem on Wednesday with Israel's National Security Advisor Yossi Cohen and presented him with a two-page document containing guidelines for an international agreement on Gaza.
The sources added that the same representatives met earlier with Israeli Foreign Ministry officials.
According to the newspaper, the guidelines contained in the document include the disarmament of Hamas as well as other Gaza factions; the reconstruction of Gaza in cooperation with the international community and the Palestinian Authority; creating an international mechanism that prevents the entry into Gaza of banned materials, and the possibility of sending a European committee to supervise the Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt together with guards loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The document makes it necessary for Germany, France and Britain to reach an agreement with Israel on Gaza and also to turn this agreement into a binding resolution that will be put to vote in the United Nations Security Council, the newspaper said.
The newspaper added that the European representatives told the Israeli government that the document is subject to debate and amendment.
Anadolu Agency could not obtain immediate comment on the report from the representatives of the three European states in the Palestinian territories.
Israel and Palestinian factions are observing an Egyptian-brokered three-day ceasefire – which expires on Friday morning – following nearly a month of unrelenting Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip – home to some 1.8 million Palestinians.
The two sides are currently in Cairo for indirect talks aimed at reaching a long-term ceasefire agreement.
Israel has already completely withdrawn its forces from the besieged coastal enclave.
At least 1886 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed and nearly 9800 others injured in the Israeli attacks, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Three Israeli civilians were also killed in rocket attacks by the Palestinian groups on Israeli cities and towns.
Israel has also confirmed that 64 soldiers had been killed in battles with Palestinian fighters inside the Gaza Strip.
By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
www.aa.com.tr/en
