Gaza truce will fail without US troops

Controlling the southern half of Gaza, disarming Hamas bitter-enders and providing humanitarian aid and medical support — all while putting into motion the first steps of reconstruction — will be a herculean task

- JAMES STAVRIDIS

When I led United States European Command from 2009 to 2013, Israel and the Levant were part of my geographic area of responsibility.

I often went to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the West Bank and, yes, the Gaza Strip. It was a daunting part of my remit, and I sought advice from a longtime mentor: Henry Kissinger, who knew a thing or two about the Middle East.

He gave me a great deal of advice, but one thing he said has really stuck with me — and I think is very much of the moment. “The key to understanding the Middle East,” he said, “is understanding and accepting that every solution is merely the admission ticket to the next problem.”

Even as President Donald Trump takes a deserved victory lap for working out a ceasefire and hostage release, he and his team need to bear that maxim in mind.

Do the US, and its allies from the Arab world and Europe, have the required determination to buy that admission ticket and help implement the tenuous ceasefire? Are they willing to offer the required assistance — perhaps including blood and treasure — to help forge a permanent peace?

Mr Trump has been clear that he is not enthusiastic about overseas troop deployments in general, and the use of US boots on the ground in Gaza may be a bridge too far. But there are lots of options for Pentagon planners short of that.

Step one is actually not in Gaza, but at the US Embassy and consular posts in Israel. While the embassy in Jerusalem has a contingent of US troops assigned to it — for protection and to liaison with the Israelis and Palestinians — that force needs to be significantly increased for a potential operational surge.