A Hebrew report has revealed that preparations for the “day after” in Gaza are underway amid efforts to locate the last fallen captive there, while Israel intends not to allow Turkey to enter the Strip and has invited Azerbaijan to play a role.
اضافة اعلان
According to the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, Israel is preparing for a decisive week to determine the location of the body of the fallen soldier Ran Gvili. Israeli army estimates indicate that Hamas will work to identify the location of the body, despite not having carried out any field activity over the past week due to weather conditions.
Maariv reported that the Israeli army and the Shin Bet provided Hamas with the names of Islamic Jihad members who are holding Ran Gvili. The army estimates that Hamas will move against these elements and believes that Hamas is capable of reaching Gvili and returning him to Israel, with expectations that this step may take several days.
Sources in the Israeli army said they had made it clear to all mediators that the recovery of Gvili is of paramount importance, and that Israel insists on not moving to the second phase without retrieving him. Maariv quoted a security official as saying, “The Americans know this as well,” noting that they are determined to move forward toward the second phase of the agreement.
According to Maariv, Israel has clarified that introducing a Turkish force into Gaza constitutes a “red line,” which the newspaper described as “paving the way for a knockout blow” to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
While the Israeli army estimates that the Egyptians will participate in implementing the second phase, expectations suggest they will not deploy police forces inside the Strip. Assessments indicate that countries such as Azerbaijan and other Islamic countries from the “third circle” would participate in the multinational international force.
It is noteworthy that earlier this year, an official document by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed the depth of the strategic relations between Israel and Azerbaijan, which include broad economic cooperation, unique support for the Jewish community, and ongoing political dialogue. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that “relations between Israel and Azerbaijan are a unique model of partnership between a Jewish state and a Muslim state.”
The document provided an overview of the “depth of strategic ties with Azerbaijan,” which was classified as one of Israel’s most important partners in the Middle East. Sa’ar affirmed that this partnership, built on mutual interests and open dialogue, “is expected to continue deepening and to serve as a model for other Islamic countries.”
It is also worth noting that the growing tension in Turkish-Israeli relations over Syria “harms regional stability and Baku’s interests,” as declared by the President of Azerbaijan in April of this year. During a meeting held in the Azerbaijani capital, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized his country’s important role as a mediator between the two sides and expressed hope that Azerbaijan would once again— as it did during the previous reconciliation round in 2022— succeed in leading a normalization process between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
At the same time, the Trump administration is currently—according to a U.S. report—presenting countries and potential donors with an ambitious plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the name “Project Sunrise.” The initiative aims to transform the rubble left by the war into a futuristic coastal city featuring luxury resorts, high-speed trains, and smart infrastructure powered by artificial intelligence. (RT)
