We are over 300 days into a war in Gaza, which started with a horrific terrorist attack launched upon Israel by Hamas.  We have seen a high-intensity conflict in a confined geographical area with the horrors of war broadcast from our TVs, the internet, and our smartphones.  The close proximity to Israel, the urban warfare, the intricate guerilla warfare conducted by terrorists, and the overwhelming humanitarian challenges faced in Gaza have truly captivated and horrified the world.

As the campaign against Hamas winds down in the near future, Gaza will enter a new chapter.  I see two separate yet related issues that will intertwine and interact through the peace process: maintaining security in Gaza and the civil affairs mission of rebuilding and reshaping the area.  From the previous October attack coming from such a short distance, I speculate Israel will control and maintain a security presence in Gaza indefinitely.  Israel will likely insist on having absolute control of the security posture throughout rebuilding the government and infrastructure in Gaza.  There is uncertainty as to which government or entities will rebuild and reshape the government and infrastructure in the area.

The Immediate Security Concerns in Post-War Gaza

The closest example I have knowledge and experience with was during the early phases of the Iraq War.  After Iraq’s conventional military was destroyed in 2003 and the Saddam regime was removed from power, there are various opinions and theories circulating through books and accounts of the rebuilding of the government and infrastructure in Iraq.  For several months, I participated in civil affairs type missions as a US soldier in Iraq.  The work and mission were fascinating, humbling, dangerous, rewarding, and adrenaline-charged.  Looking back, I did not know at the time how globally important the limited mission really was for the US and the future of Iraq.  One minute, I would be driving in a thrilling one or two vehicle convoy throughout Baghdad, and the next, I would be meeting with Iraqi professionals, their staff, and their drivers.  There was much danger for ourselves and the Iraqis who were trying to rebuild their country, with lots of bad actors lurking to pose extreme danger to everyone involved.

Samarra
General Odierno and Lieutenant Colonel McGee out to win hearts and minds walking the streets of Samarra, Iraq.

Lessons from Iraq: A Blueprint for Gaza’s Rebuilding Efforts

One general theme I believe now over experience and research is that the US and its allies were so focused on the destruction of the Iraqi military that we kind of skimped on the peace plan after the US and Allies decimated the Iraqi military.  The rebuilding and reshaping of the Iraqi government and infrastructure was a daunting task and mission.  The civil affairs function of the military was truly tested and stretched in a variety of ways, with challenges of diplomacy and civilian expertise and carrying out various rebuilding efforts.  It’s a million-dollar question: is the military better equipped to rebuild a government and infrastructure after war, or is there civilian entities that can best do the job?

I came across a book called Fiasco, The Military Adventure in Iraq 2003 to 2005 by Thomas E. Ricks.  I found it a very interesting read, although some of the content was sometimes too close to home and brought back memories and experiences that are now truly surreal.  The book was truly thought-provoking and insightful, although reflections and implications were really tough for me to internalize, having put my life on the line for our country and the brave Iraqis we worked with.

While I feel the Gaza War may be coming to a close, I hope the peace plan goes more smoothly than in previous rebuilding efforts from past wars.  The hatred of the various parties towards each other and the amount of suffering will make it very difficult to work together to rebuild the government and infrastructure.

A possibility is an international coalition of governments and agencies conducting civil affairs in Gaza.  One outcome and potential path would be a rebuilding effort conducted by third-party governments and entities.  I’ve heard speculation that this may come in the form of parties from the Abraham Accords who have an interest in a stabilized region, although there must be oversight financially to reduce corruption and funding going to enemies of Israel.