WASHINGTON — The United States and Israel have engaged in high-level discussions over the possibility of Washington leading a temporary post-war administration in Gaza, a move that could mark the most significant American intervention in the Middle East since the Iraq War, according to five people with knowledge of the ongoing talks.
The consultations, described as preliminary and not yet finalized, have focused on the idea of a transitional governing authority headed by a U.S. official. This body would be responsible for managing Gaza until the territory is demilitarized and stabilized, and a viable Palestinian governance structure emerges, the sources said. No specific timeline has been set, with the length of the administration expected to depend on conditions on the ground.
The plan bears similarities to the Coalition Provisional Authority created by the U.S. in Iraq in 2003, which was widely seen as an occupying force and struggled to contain an insurgency before ceding power to an interim Iraqi government in 2004.
The proposed Gaza administration, according to the sources, would draw on Palestinian technocrats but would exclude both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Other countries could be invited to participate, though no specific nations were identified.
Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, ignited the current war on October 7, 2023, with a deadly assault on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. The Israeli military response has since claimed over 52,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
While serious, the conversations between Washington and Jerusalem have not advanced to identifying individuals for leadership roles, and it remains unclear which side initiated the proposal. The U.S. State Department declined to confirm whether such talks had occurred. A spokesperson stated: “We want peace, and the immediate release of the hostages. The pillars of our approach remain resolute: stand with Israel, stand for peace.”
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also declined to comment.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged the likelihood of a “transitional period” following the conflict, during which an international board of trustees — including “moderate Arab countries” — would supervise Gaza’s recovery. “Our sole interest in Gaza is security,” Saar said.
However, Israeli leadership, particularly Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition, remains adamant that neither the PA nor Hamas should play any role in Gaza’s future. Netanyahu reiterated this position Monday, announcing expanded military operations and further displacement of Gazans “for their own safety.”
While some in his coalition have advocated for the “voluntary” mass migration of Palestinians and the return of Israeli settlements to Gaza, sources say Israeli officials behind the scenes are considering more practical alternatives — including the US-led administration, dividing Gaza into security zones, and establishing permanent Israeli military bases.
The idea of a U.S.-led administration in Gaza carries significant political and diplomatic risks. Two sources noted that the move could provoke backlash across the Middle East if Washington is seen as an occupying power.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, has floated a separate proposal for an international coalition to govern Gaza, but its participation would hinge on the inclusion of the Palestinian Authority and a clear path toward Palestinian statehood. The UAE has not commented on whether it would support a US-led administration excluding the PA.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, spokesman for the Hamas-run media office in Gaza, rejected the idea outright, insisting that only the Palestinian people have the right to determine their leadership.
The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank and is backed by the West, did not respond to requests for comment.
If implemented, the plan would mark a profound shift in U.S. policy in the region, drawing direct comparisons to the 2003 occupation of Iraq and risking renewed instability. The memory of the Coalition Provisional Authority’s failure looms large, and Washington is aware that perceptions of neocolonialism or occupation could undercut any attempts at stabilization.
Nonetheless, the proposal is gaining quiet traction as the conflict enters its seventh month with no political resolution in sight and the devastation in Gaza mounting.
