Israeli Peace Council Plans Pilot to Relocate Gaza Population Beyond Hamas Control Before Full Disarmament

The Israeli Peace Council is advancing a pilot program to relocate parts of Gaza's population beyond the "yellow line," into areas outside Hamas control, aiming to weaken the militant group even before its full disarmament. According to sources familiar with the planning, the initiative seeks to establish zones with better humanitarian conditions under local Gaza forces not affiliated with Hamas or ISIS, supported by the International Security Force (ISF). The pilot is expected to begin by the upcoming winter, with initial steps already underway, including clearing land and preparing infrastructure in southern Gaza near Rafah.

The program aligns with Section 17 of former U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan and is funded by the United States, Gulf states, and other countries, not Israel. It involves constructing light housing such as caravans and tents with improved utilities, rather than full-scale reconstruction. Israeli Defense Forces are actively clearing areas to facilitate the pilot, which will be overseen by local security forces to avoid direct IDF contact with civilians. The ISF, comprising troops from countries including Morocco, Albania, Kosovo, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan under U.S. supervision, will help maintain order.

Despite ongoing negotiations with Hamas for full disarmament, the group has so far refused to relinquish its weapons. The Peace Council and Israeli officials emphasize they will not wait for Hamas and intend to expand these pilot zones gradually. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized Hamas’s recent announcement to cede some administrative control to a technocratic committee, calling it a tactic to avoid disarmament and maintain military dominance. The Peace Council echoed this skepticism, insisting on one authority, one law, and one weapon under the technocratic committee’s full control before any reconstruction or governance transition.

The technocratic committee’s head, Ali Shatat, stated the committee will only enter Gaza once essential conditions, including unified security control, are met. The pilot program is viewed as a strategic step to reduce Hamas’s grip on Gaza’s population and improve humanitarian conditions while preparing for a broader peace implementation framework.