The question is abstract yet pertinent and it is resonating in Israel, the Palestinian National Authority, Egypt, Washington and indeed many others: What to do about Gaza? Less than a week since Israel slammed shut all doors leading in and out of the Palestinian enclave causing one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes in recent times, a breach in the corrugated iron fence dividing the border town of Rafah caused thousands of stranded citizens to pour into Sinai in search for food, medicine and other essential goods. Egyptian border police stood by as Palestinians reenacted a scene from their diaspora. It was almost a biblical image and the world was aghast.
There was nothing the Egyptians could do but to claim some credit for having alleviated the suffering of a hapless population. After all, Israel's brutal siege has sent tremors across the Arab and Muslim worlds. As the 350 square-kilometre enclave sunk into darkness, the plight of over 1.5 million Palestinians began to spill over across the globe. Thanks to live TV coverage, notably by Al Jazeera, millions of angry Muslims watched in horror as Palestinians succumbed to the worst form of collective punishment.
For days Arab governments looked on and did nothing. The world barely reacted while Israel escalated its punitive measures. The Gaza operation came only few days after President George W. Bush concluded a historic visit to Israel, the Palestinian territories and a number of Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia. But instead of dwelling on the substance of what he said during his meetings with Arab and Israeli leaders, public opinion was suddenly pinned on Gaza's plight. Whether Israel carried out its blockade unilaterally or with US consent, the siege was a public relations fiasco for US diplomacy. It also embarrassed the president's Arab hosts, particularly the PNA. Regardless of Israel's motives, there was no mistaking the people of Gaza as victims.
It is also difficult to understand Israel's reasoning. The blockade, which included a total ban on fuel, medical and humanitarian shipments, could not but highlight the plight of millions of innocent Palestinians, the majority of whom are refugees. If Israel was hoping to bring the world's attention to the firing of Gaza's crude missiles on its southern towns, it was a miscalculation.
Dubious pose
There were few sympathisers even though the UN Secretary General Ban-Ki moon tried to present a balanced position asking Israel to show restraint and allow humanitarian aid to go in, while calling on Palestinian fighters to end their missile attacks on Israel. The Security Council also adopted a dubious pose by equating the suffering of millions of Gazans to the panic experienced by the residents of Israel's southern towns.
The sudden and unexpected breach in the border fence and the spontaneous pouring in of thousands of Palestinians into Al Arish in Sinai to find essential goods took all parties by surprise. The Egyptians avoided being put in a position where they would have been forced to fire at unarmed civilians scurrying to find food and supplies. That was a wise move on their part even though it put them on a collision course with Israel and the United States.
Since the PNA's debacle in Gaza, the official crossing point at Rafah has been closed. A few weeks earlier the Egyptians faced another dilemma when Israel refused entry to thousands of returning Palestinian pilgrims through the Rafah checkpoint. As the humanitarian situation of stranded Palestinians escalated, Egypt opened the gates and allowed the pilgrims to return home.
The situation in Gaza has created a difficult challenge to the PNA as well. On the one hand it would be loath to see its rival Hamas scoring any points from the recent developments, while at the same time it cannot appear to be condoning the Israeli blockade. Israel as well is dumbfounded. The Egyptian position has changed the nature of its conflict with Gaza. Having dismantled its colonies a few years ago and chosen to depart, it now faces a situation where Gaza can freely be linked to its only outlet, which is Egypt.
In fact it is no wonder that in light of its recent policy, Israel is now looking into the possibility of losing any sort of pressure over Gaza. If the enclave somehow normalises its relationship with Egypt it can survive without depending on Israel's oil and food shipment. This is a scenario no one has prepared for. But the problem lies with the PNA, the legitimate authority that speaks for all Palestinians.
Somehow Hamas, which controls the strip, and the PNA must overcome their differences in order to decide the future of the desert enclave. Israel's blockade would become irrelevant if the border with Egypt becomes open in an orderly way. Egypt's choices would become easier if the Palestinian factions can come to an agreement. The US, and Israel, would want to sabotage such a deal. But their alternatives are not practical.
One thing the PNA should consider is to call for the UN to take over the Gaza Strip. If Israel says it has withdrawn from Gaza and has nothing to do with it, maybe PNA President Mahmoud Abbas should entertain the idea of putting the enclave under UN auspices until the future of the Palestinian state is decided through negotiations. Hamas should also consider such an option even though it would mean finishing its absolute control over Gaza. But for millions of Palestinians living there such an option promises an end to their suffering and a protection against Israeli incursions.
Osama Al Sharif is a Jordanian journalist based in Amman.
