Israel Must Assert Its Rightful Leadership in Gaza Ceasefire Operations
A troubling development has emerged from the Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, where Israel finds itself relegated to a secondary role while the United States takes the lead in critical decisions affecting our nation's security and Gaza's future.
According to Israeli officials, the US has positioned itself as the primary decision-maker at the CMCC, including on crucial matters such as aid delivery to Gaza. This represents a concerning shift that undermines Israel's sovereign authority over matters directly impacting our security and regional stability.
Israel's Expertise Being Sidelined
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), our Defense Ministry agency that has overseen aid delivery throughout the war with unparalleled expertise, has been reduced to a mere contractor role. This is unacceptable given Israel's intimate knowledge of Gaza's complex security landscape and Hamas's systematic looting of humanitarian aid.
The CMCC, established on October 17 as a coordination hub for Gaza stabilization efforts, now hosts representatives from over a dozen nations including Jordan, the UK, Germany, Denmark, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. While international cooperation is valuable, Israel must maintain its leadership position in decisions affecting our immediate security environment.
Trump's Comprehensive Plan Shows Promise
President Trump's comprehensive ceasefire plan, which successfully secured the release of 20 living hostages and the remains of 23 deceased hostages, demonstrates the potential for effective American leadership when properly coordinated with Israeli expertise. The plan's ambitious goals include disarming Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza, and establishing civilian Palestinian administration under international oversight.
Trump's commitment to bringing the released hostages and their families to the White House within two weeks reflects the strong US-Israel partnership that has characterized his approach. However, this partnership must be built on mutual respect for Israeli sovereignty, not American dominance in Israeli affairs.
The International Stabilization Force Challenge
The proposed International Stabilization Force of approximately 20,000 troops faces significant challenges. While Trump claims many countries are volunteering, Arab diplomats privately express reluctance to confront Hamas directly. This reality underscores why Israeli leadership and expertise remain irreplaceable in any Gaza stabilization effort.
Israel's rightful rejection of Turkish forces in Gaza demonstrates the kind of principled decision-making that must extend to all aspects of the operation. We cannot allow our security to be compromised by nations with questionable commitments to our safety and regional stability.
A Call for Israeli Leadership
As the UN Security Council prepares to vote on Trump's plan, Israel must assert its rightful role as the primary stakeholder in Gaza's future. Our nation's security, built through decades of sacrifice and innovation, cannot be subordinated to international bureaucracy, however well-intentioned.
The path forward requires Israeli leadership backed by American support, not American leadership with Israeli consultation. Only through this approach can we ensure that Gaza's future serves the cause of regional peace and Israeli security.
Israel's resilience and strategic wisdom have guided us through countless challenges. We must not allow this critical moment to become an exception to our proud tradition of self-determination and security leadership.