A plan to create a new foothold in Gaza Strip for the Palestinian Authority (PA) and to bring in international monitors was being worked out by diplomats, The Times reported on Saturday. According to the report, the plan will allow a return of the Authority to the territory 18 months after it was expelled by Hamas. "Diplomats are considering taking a triangle at the southern end of Gaza, including the Rafah crossing to Egypt and the Kerem Shalom crossing to Israel, to be policed by Turkish and French military monitors to stop arms smuggling into Gaza," the British newspaper added.
The zone would nominally be controlled by the PA. Such a plan would allow the crossings to reopen for the first time since Hamas seized power in Gaza in June 2007.
The plan is being negotiated as part of the Egyptian truce proposal, announced by President Husni Mubarak after talks with French President Sarkozy, which calls for an immediate ceasefire to be followed by talks on securing the Gaza-Egypt border and reopening the crossings.
The plan however, faces obstacles. Hamas has said it would consider allowing observers at the border crossings with Egypt but opposes an international force. On its part, Israel is insisting on a significant international force to destroy smuggling tunnels under the border.
