The United States is reportedly planning a long-term division of Gaza into a “green zone” under Israeli and international military control, where reconstruction would begin, and a “red zone” that would remain in ruins.
Foreign forces would initially be deployed alongside Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza, leaving the devastated enclave separated by a “yellow line,” currently controlled by Israel, according to American military planning documents obtained by The Guardian and informed sources on US plans.
“Ideally, you would want to make it complete, right? But that is an aspiration,” said a US official. “It will take time. It won’t be easy.”
Washington has shifted its approach to Gaza’s future several times, including abandoning the “enclosed camp” model for Palestinians, known as “alternative safe communities.” US officials have admitted that the planning process is “very dynamic,” with only a few individuals having full access to decision-making stages.
At the center of the plan is the creation of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), envisioned in Donald Trump’s 20-point plan. The US hopes a UN Security Council resolution will be adopted soon, paving the way for military engagement by partner states. Although the American documents foresee significant contributions from European countries, many are seen as willing to provide only non-combat support due to political sensitivities. Jordan has also ruled out sending troops, while it is proposed that the force be led by a broad coalition of NATO states and partners. The force would operate only in the “green zone,” leaving the territory where Hamas is reestablishing control untouched.
Israel would consider withdrawal only once international security is in place, with no clear timeline.
Reconstruction in the “green zone” is also seen by the US as a means to encourage Palestinians to voluntarily relocate there, while the “red zone” remains overcrowded, with more than 2 million residents lacking adequate shelter and facing severe restrictions on aid deliveries. Urgent reconstruction is needed, with over 80% of Gaza homes damaged or destroyed by the conflict, including nearly all schools and hospitals, according to UN data.
Humanitarian organizations, which have raised significant concerns about the model, said on Friday that they have not yet been informed of changes to the plan.
Trump’s 20-point plan describes a new Palestinian police force as the “long-term solution for internal security” in Gaza, but US planners have assigned it a limited role. The plan calls for 200 initial recruits, growing within a year to 3,000–4,000 officers—only about a fifth of the total security force envisioned.
More than a month after the ceasefire, Israel continues to restrict aid to Gaza, including banning essential items. Nearly 1.5 million Palestinians are waiting for emergency shelter supplies, and hundreds of thousands are living in tents without access to basic services such as clean water. Almost the entire population—over 2 million people—is concentrated in the red zone, a strip along the coast covering less than half of Gaza’s area.
