Israel tells allied Arab states it wants 'buffer zone' in Gaza

Israel has told its Arab allies that it wants to create a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip after the current round of fighting ends, in order to prevent Hamas from reasserting control in the enclave.

Three regional sources told Haaretz that the Israeli government had relayed the plan to Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE and compared it to the "security zone" that Israel had maintained in southern Lebanon between 1985 and 2000.

"Israel wants this buffer zone between Gaza and Israel from the north to the south to prevent any Hamas or other militants from infiltrating or attacking Israel," said one senior regional security official, who did not want his nationality identified.

Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which does not have relations with Israel officially, were also informed of the plan.