(gunshots firing) (persons shouting indistinctly) – [Narrator] More than 100 days
into its war against Hamas, Israel is facing mounting pressure from the international community to agree to a plan for postwar Gaza. While Israeli authorities
have repeatedly said. – Israel has no intention of
permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population. – [Narrator] Between Israel,
key ally the United States and Arab states like
Egypt and Saudi Arabia agreeing on a proposal is difficult. – The argument now is over who
would lead the reintroduction of some form of government
in the Gaza Strip? Nobody can agree on what it should be. – [Narrator] Here's why
reaching a consensus is so complicated.
After the October 7th attack,
Israel declared war on Hamas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swore to eradicate the militant group, but that's not a straightforward goal. Hamas, formed in 1987, is a US designated terrorist organization that rejects Israel's right to exist. It's also governed Gaza since 2007. – Israel has had no trouble
establishing, in a sense, military dominance in the Gaza Strip but the problem is that
Hamas has been able to prepare for an israeli
invasion, most famously through an incredibly
extensive network of tunnels. – [Narrator] As the israeli
military pushes south, working both above ground
and below to wipe out Hamas pockets of resistance remain even in areas under Israel's control. – The Israelis claim
that they're inflicting heavy casualties on Hamas' military wing. However, the Israelis also admit that they are not eliminating Hamas. The survivors of Hamas are trying to reestablish their political and civil control of the areas that the Israeli army is vacating. So that the war, from the Israeli point of view is turning into
a kind of Whac-a-Mole. – [Narrator] Even without
the military setbacks, Israel will have a hard time getting some of the key
outcomes it wants in place at the end of this conflict.
To start, Israel wants to be in charge of security in the enclave. – I think Israel, for
an indefinite period, will have the overall
security responsibility because we've seen what
happens when we don't have it. – [Narrator] Israel also
wants Gulf countries to play a leading role in rebuilding Gaza. An idea those countries
are unlikely to agree to without a clear plan
for a Palestinian state. (gentle music) In 1994, an elected body called the Palestinian Authority or PA was formed as part of a peace agreement known as the Oslo Accord. It was supposed to
gradually assume governance of the West Bank and Gaza. That transfer of power
was never fully realized, but the PA did secure some control in the Palestinian territories. In 2005, Israel withdrew
its soldiers from Gaza. Hamas' victory in the 2006 elections earned the militant group a
strong legislative majority in the Palestinian Authority, but a global boycott and a 2007 civil war left Hamas in charge
only of the Gaza Strip, while the PA now controlled by
the more moderate Fatah group maintained its position in the West Bank.
Fast forward to today, the US, Egypt and Qatar are
pushing Israel and Hamas to agree to deescalate in phases. And while both sides appear
open to conversation, any resolution involving Hamas
is a non-starter for Israel. (speaking in foreign language) (speaking in foreign language continues) (gentle music) In place of a Hamas government,
the US and Arab allies are calling for the Palestinian
Authority to return to Gaza, but the PA is widely seen as corrupt, so they'd want to make some changes first. – A stronger, reformed
Palestinian Authority that can more effectively
deliver for its own people has to be part of the equation. – It's really an expression of the lack of trust in the Palestinian
Authority and its leader Abbas. At the moment, it would
mean bringing in new blood, but nobody really knows who that would be. – [Narrator] The US
also wants negotiations to include a path to establishing an independent Palestinian state known as the two-state solution. – It really is the only path that provides peace and security for all. And what is more, it is not
impractical, it can be done.
– [Narrator] But Netanyahu argues that it would pose an
existential danger to Israel. – The idea of there being a
single Palestinian address essentially puts pressure on Israel to deal with Palestinians
as a national movement rather than as a collection of towns and villages in the West Bank and Gaza. – [Narrator] The Palestinian Authority has its own hesitations
about reentering Gaza, especially without the
guarantee of statehood. – [Nathan] They're not
going to just go back in, as they say, on the
backs of Israeli tanks. It would be a death now for
the Palestinian Authority in terms of its domestic constituency if it was seen as coordinating
with the Israeli occupation.
– [Narrator] And after decades of talk of a two-state solution, Palestinian officials
say they want action. – We want Washington to walk the walk, meaning that we need specific measures to implement the two-state solution not only believe in two-states. – [Narrator] Israel,
Hamas and Arab countries are offering proposals for
ceasefire or peace deals, but so far there's little movement. – The current situation is
incredibly difficult to resolve because it's really a
collision of three things. One is a terrible humanitarian situation. Secondly, a military problem from the Israeli's point of view, which is that it is
proving extremely difficult to eliminate Hamas as a fighting force. And then you have the political level at which there is a complete impasse because the Israeli government
is unwilling to agree to the two conditions
that outside players want, which is, the Palestinian
Authority has to be involved in replacing Hamas as the power in Gaza. And secondly, there has
to finally be movement towards Palestinian sovereignty. So untangling this knot is
proving extremely difficult and nobody really knows how this will end.
(gentle music).