Commentator Slams Plan to Train 20,000 Gazans in Egypt

Israeli commentator Zvi Yehezkeli strongly criticized a proposal to train 20,000 non-Hamas Gazans in Egypt, arguing that no significant force exists in Gaza that is not influenced by or supportive of Hamas. Speaking on the program "P'tichi and Zamri Ba'am," Yehezkeli stated, "You asked me if there are twenty thousand in Gaza who are not Hamas? Yes, there are. In the cemeteries of Gaza there are such people." He elaborated that in Gaza, one is either under Hamas rule or is a Hamas supporter, and those who do not support the organization "are no longer present and do not exist."

Yehezkeli drew parallels to the Oslo Accords, asserting that a force trained in Egypt and entering Gaza with weapons would be unable to withstand Hamas. He predicted that such a group, after undergoing military training, would be quickly overpowered by Hamas, with their weapons confiscated. He recalled Hamas's 2007 takeover of Gaza, witnessing senior Fatah members fleeing in their underwear as weapons flowed to Hamas, leading to the organization's consolidation of power.

Questioning the viability of such a plan after the October 7th attacks, Yehezkeli expressed doubt about Hamas's willingness to relinquish its weapons. He described Islamist organizations as those who hold onto their arms until the very last moment, and even beyond. The commentator's remarks were a response to a question from the program's hosts regarding the possibility of establishing and training a non-Hamas Gazan force.