Steve Witkoff to Negotiate Evacuation of Hamas from Gaza?
Dr. Aaron Lerner 18 January 2025

President-elect Trump shares Israel's determination that Hamas will not be
in control of the Gaza Strip.

Therefore, it follows that the negotiations now with Hamas will focus on
arrangements for the evacuation of Hamas from the Gaza Strip.

It is believed that the simplest arrangement is for the evacuation to be
carried out via the El Arish Port, which is around 53 kilometers from the
Gaza Strip.

The El Arish Port can handle, subject to weather conditions, around 10,800
passengers a day, using small vessels that shuttle passengers to larger
passenger vessels anchored offshore.

Turkey, which until the fall of Assad housed some three million Syrian
refugees, is considered the most practical partner for both providing the
transportation and absorption of the evacuees.

It remains unclear who, beyond those in the military wings of Hamas and the
other various terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, as well as the
senior levels of the "civilian wings" of the groups, would be part of the
evacuation.

It has been suggested that, as a practical matter, the families of the
evacuees will have the option to also move to Turkey.

Others assert that anyone in Gaza should be provided the option to move to
Turkey.

A more conservative suggestion is that Gazans with visas to other countries
or foreign passports be allowed to exploit the evacuation to reach an
airport in Turkey so that they may begin their journey.

To ensure the safety of the evacuees until they leave the Gaza Strip, the
last hostage body will be handed over to the Red Cross upon the departure of
the last convoy of evacuees from the Gaza Strip.
________________________________________
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il