The Gaza war, which changed the face of the region and caused, directly or indirectly, destructions in the Strip and the neighbouring countries, has ended. The price for this change was high: the militias that controlled the future of at least five countries had their infrastructure shattered, their leaders assassinated, and they lost most of their military power. Politically, Syria and Lebanon have been stabilized, as they are now under reliable civilian administration, after years of killing, displacement, and eviction.
Israel has half of its political leadership today living in a state of relief after the agreement for the release of the hostages who had a year of strange life at the mercy of Hamas militants. But the other half, representing the extreme right, feels that it was defeated in the war, with the withdrawal of the Israeli military forces from the Strip.
Several parties attribute the success of the agreement to the Biden administration saying it is the result of its efforts throughout a year of negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar, and the non-stop shuttle flights of Secretary of State Tony Blinken to the region. For his part, President Trump says that the agreement would not have been achieved without him. The reality, as we see it and observe it, is that the efforts that led us to the success of the agreement were due to the efforts and perseverance of the Biden administration, but the decisiveness and the final word undoubtedly belong to Trump, who was strict with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The latter had no choice but to please Trump, as Biden would have spent years running after an agreement that he would not obtain, but Trump stopped this marathon in his favor.
The real concern that Netanyahu and the extreme right should be worried about is not only withdrawing from western Gaza, but the huge number of young people in Gaza who are without work or a source of income. Let us remember that the most important reason for the loyalty of young people who join the militias, whatever they may be, is money: salaries that are used to open homes, marry young people, educate them, and support their families. Hundreds of thousands of young people in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon are looking for a source of income; a livelihood, in light of the conditions of poverty and destruction that have befallen them. This is the real danger not only to Israel, but to all the countries of the region. The international community and the supporting countries rushed to send aid trucks carrying food and clothing, but it is important to understand the priorities after that. In Gaza, for example, the homes are destroyed, and the rubble is seen from satellites as if it were a carpet spread across the entire Strip. Where will these people live? Extinction is not an available option. It is important to prioritize, including rebuilding hospitals as an emergency, but schools, homes and institutions will take years of continuous work, and it is difficult to imagine people waiting for these projects to be completed for that long. A reasonable solution is temporary housing with a sheet structure, which is usually built in natural disaster situations, and shelters because they are easy to assemble and serve their purpose until the concrete homes are rebuilt.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance to contain the essential needs of the youth. In Lebanon, Hezbollah was providing salaries for its members, and this is the most important reason why the families of the party members felt orphaned by its destruction. As for Syria, the black market oil trade and looting were the basis of young's' financial resources, and this matter has become difficult today in the presence of security monitoring and international support. It is a new situation imposed by the status quo, and everyone must be aware of it.
Hunger distracts the mind and makes the soul miserable. Unemployed youth are a time bomb in countries where the sound of gunfire has just stopped. They can be recruited as mercenaries, or to rebuild the human structure of militias, and they can turn into gangsters, drug smugglers, and other outlets of evil. The least solution that can be thought at this critical time is to involve youth in reconstruction in Lebanon, Gaza, and Syria and give them free rein to carry out small and medium-sized tasks that will secure a livelihood for them and their families. These youth will not forget those who will stand with them, after a long suffering from displacement, migration, and loss of identity.