Palestinian officials report that Fatah and Hamas are nearing an agreement to establish a committee of politically neutral technocrats to manage Gaza following the ongoing war. This arrangement would effectively end Hamas' rule in Gaza and potentially aid ceasefire discussions with Israel.
The two factions have a history of unsuccessful reconciliation attempts since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. Israel has dismissed any role for either Hamas or Fatah in Gaza's postwar administration, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizing ongoing Israeli security control over the region and the return of hostages as priorities.
A Palestinian Authority official confirmed that preliminary consensus on the committee's formation was reached after weeks of negotiations in Cairo. The proposed body, comprising 12-15 members primarily from Gaza, would report to the Palestinian Authority and coordinate humanitarian and reconstruction efforts with local and international actors.
Hamas and Fatah have agreed on broad terms but are still negotiating details, including committee member selection. An announcement is expected after a meeting of all Palestinian factions in Cairo, though no timeline has been provided. Both Palestinian and Israeli officials have avoided public comment on the matter.
The U.S. supports reviving the Palestinian Authority's governance over both Gaza and the West Bank as a step toward statehood, though Israel opposes such an outcome. Meanwhile, some Fatah leaders criticize the proposal, with Jibril Rajoub warning it could deepen divisions between Gaza and the West Bank.
The committee's work would begin after a ceasefire agreement, which has faced repeated delays despite mediation efforts by American and Arab diplomats. The conflict escalated after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left over 1,200 people dead and led to the abduction of 250 hostages. Israel’s military response has devastated Gaza, resulting in over 44,000 Palestinian deaths, largely women and children, according to local health authorities.
(Source: AP)
bd-pratidin/Rafid
