While the war in Gaza hasn’t over yet, it is imperative to think beyond ceasefires and short-term needs, including the release of 101 Israeli hostages and providing humanitarian aid.
In order to make sure this is the last war between Israel and the Palestinians, which in turn could lead to a more constructive, peace-building path, what Gaza needs is a comprehensive, multi-faceted plan to address its security, political, humanitarian, and social challenges - a strategy that not only ends cycles of violence but removes their root causes and plants seeds for lasting coexistence, and eventually peace. Enter the "Meatball Sub" strategy: a vision that combines immediate stabilization efforts with long-term reconstruction and partnerships on regional and global scales.
The Four Pillars: The Meatballs
At the core of this strategy are four interconnected pillars, each crucial to transforming Gaza from a hotspot of tragedy, violence, and despair into a beacon for hope:
Counter-Insurgency Operations: Dismantling the remnants of Hamas and its militant infrastructure is the first step. This involves targeted, chirurgical operations to neutralize threats while minimizing harm to civilians. The goal is to eliminate Hamas’s military capabilities and ideological influence, ensuring Gaza does not remain a launchpad for violence against Israelis. Rellying on special operations units alone, and not on a permanent IDF “boots on the ground” presence, will also protect Israeli lives and make sure Israel can direct its military resources into other fronts, while also preventing Israeli civilians from re-settling Gaza, which would put them, the soldiers protecting them, and the entire strategy at risk.
A Governing Alternative: The collapse of Hamas must be met with the rise of an effective and humane governance structure, probably relying on a reformed Palestinian Authority (and strict reforms must be applied on it, given its curroption, ineffectiveness, and unpopularity). This interim administration would focus on providing basic services such as healthcare, education, and utilities, restoring dignity to the lives of Gazans and signaling a break from the corruption and violence of the past.
Physical Reconstruction: Over a year of war left Gaza in ruins. Rebuilding homes, schools, hospitals, and transportation infrastructure is essential to restoring normalcy and laying the groundwork for a functional society and economy. This effort must be guided by transparency and accountability to prevent resources from falling into the wrong hands, and should relly on a combination of multinational organizations, state actors, and private sector investors.
Social Reconstruction: Perhaps the most challenging pillar, this involves rebuilding institutions within Palestinian society to foster coexistence rather than division. Education reform (similar to the reforms executed in the UAE regarding Israel) and preachers and religious scholars training, leading to the replacement of incitement with messaging of peace and opportunity are essential to creating a future where another violent group like Hamas cannot reemerge because it will not find an ideological ground to grow on.
The Bread:
Two Layers of International Support
A "meatball sub" isn’t complete without its bread, and this strategy is no different. The success of these four pillars hinges on two layers of external cooperation:
A Regional Security Alliance: Israel cannot achieve these goals alone. A coalition that includes Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and a renewed Palestinian Authority would bring collective expertise, resources, and legitimacy to the table, including security cooperation on other fronts (especially Iran). This alliance would ensure that Gaza’s borders are secure, arms smuggling is stopped, and regional stability is prioritized.
A Global Democracy Alliance: Beyond the region, Gaza’s reconstruction and Israel’s global positioning must be bolstered by a broader coalition of democratic powers. The frontline democracies - Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and South Korea - understand the existential threats posed by authoritarianism, given their conflicts with Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea (respectively). With the support of Western organizations like NATO and the Quad, this alliance could provide geopolitical support, technical expertise, and diplomatic backing to ensure Gaza’s transformation aligns with universal values of freedom and human rights.
A Vision for the Future
The "Meatball Sub" is not just a plan; it is a vision for what Israel and Gaza - and the region at large - could become. It acknowledges the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while refusing to accept the status quo of endless war or to “hide” behind simplistic deflections (“it’s complicated”). It definitely does not allow extremists, on both sides, to take advantage of the tragedy of October 7 and the war that follows it, to their own messianic agendas. By combining tactical operations, humanitarian governance, physical and social rebuilding, and robust international alliances, this strategy offers a roadmap for stability that is as pragmatic as it is ambitious, while addressing the legitimate concerns of all parties involved.
This is not a quick fix, nor will it be easy. It sure does not solve all of the region’s challenges. But the alternative - endless cycles of violence, suffering, and instability - is far worse. The time to act is now, with a clear-eyed commitment to breaking the mold and building a future where Gaza is no longer a symbol of despair but a beacon of possibility.
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