Palestinian officials have announced progress in negotiations between rival factions Fatah and Hamas to establish a governance committee for Gaza led by politically independent technocrats. This initiative, formed after weeks of discussions in Cairo, is seen as a step toward ending Hamas’ control of Gaza since 2007.
The committee, with 12-15 members predominantly from Gaza, would report to the Palestinian Authority (PA), headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. It aims to oversee humanitarian aid and reconstruction, potentially advancing ceasefire talks with Israel and mitigating long-standing factional divides.
Efforts to reconcile Hamas and Fatah have repeatedly failed since Hamas seized Gaza in a violent conflict. Israel has ruled out the involvement of either faction in postwar Gaza governance, expressing distrust of both. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has committed to dismantling Hamas and maintaining indefinite security control over Gaza.
Simultaneously, the U.S. advocates for revitalizing the PA as a governing body for both the West Bank and Gaza, aligning with its vision of eventual Palestinian statehood. However, Israel, which opposes Palestinian statehood, has been discussing alternative governance plans with allies such as the United Arab Emirates.
The emerging Palestinian plan represents a potential shift in Gaza’s leadership. Hamas and Fatah have agreed on broad terms but are finalizing details, including the committee’s membership. A formal announcement is expected following a broader Palestinian factions meeting in Cairo.
Palestinian Factions Near Agreement on Technocratic Governance for Postwar Gaza
While Hamas suggests this agreement could align with Israel’s goal of ending its rule in Gaza, Israeli officials have yet to comment, leaving uncertainty about their stance. Meanwhile, the PA’s cooperation with Israel on security matters remains a point of contention among Palestinians, many of whom view the PA as complicit in the occupation.
The committee’s work would begin after a ceasefire agreement is reached, although negotiations mediated by the U.S. and Arab states have struggled to gain traction. Hamas sparked the ongoing war with its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and led to the abduction of around 250 hostages.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has inflicted devastating casualties in Gaza, with over 44,000 Palestinians killed, primarily civilians, according to local health reports. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and left the territory in ruins.
This devastating backdrop underscores the urgency of a ceasefire and humanitarian resolution. While the proposed governance committee offers a potential path forward, significant challenges remain. Israel’s insistence on excluding both Hamas and the PA, coupled with the factions’ historical discord and Palestinian distrust of governance tied to Israel, complicates the situation.
International stakeholders, particularly the U.S. and Arab states, continue to push for a solution, but the road to peace and reconstruction in Gaza remains fraught with uncertainty and opposition.
