Palestinian representatives have indicated that Fatah and Hamas are nearing a consensus on the formation of a committee comprised of politically independent technocrats to govern the Gaza Strip after the ongoing conflict. This development could signal the end of Hamas’ authority in the region and might facilitate discussions regarding a ceasefire with Israel.
Attempts to reconcile the conflicting factions have been unsuccessful since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. Meanwhile, Israel has expressed its intention to exclude both Hamas and Fatah, which is supported by the West, from any future governance in Gaza.
On Tuesday, a Palestinian Authority official confirmed that a preliminary agreement had been reached after extensive negotiations in Cairo. It was revealed that this new committee would consist of 12 to 15 members, primarily selected from Gaza.
The committee is expected to report to the Palestinian Authority, which is based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and will coordinate with both local and international entities to manage humanitarian efforts and reconstruction initiatives.
A Hamas representative stated that the two factions had made progress on general terms but were still working out specific details concerning individual appointments to the committee. The official mentioned that an official announcement will follow a meeting involving all Palestinian factions in Cairo, although no specific timeline was shared.
Due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, both officials chose to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the discussions. There was no immediate response from the Israeli government regarding these talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to persist with military actions until Hamas is dismantled and hostages are recovered. He has emphasized that Israel plans to maintain indefinite security oversight of Gaza, delegating civilian tasks to local Palestinians not affiliated with the Palestinian Authority or Hamas.
However, no Palestinians have stepped forward for such roles, and Hamas has warned against cooperation with the Israeli military.
The United States has advocated for the revitalization of the Palestinian Authority to oversee both the West Bank and Gaza in anticipation of future statehood. Meanwhile, the Israeli government, which opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, is reportedly engaging in discussions with the United Arab Emirates about a postwar strategy. The UAE normalized relations with Israel in 2020 and supports a competing faction within Fatah.
The Hamas official remarked that this prospective agreement aligns with one of Israel’s objectives by potentially ending its control in Gaza. However, it remains uncertain how Israeli officials would interpret such developments.
The Palestinian Authority, responsible for governing parts of the occupied West Bank, recognizes Israel and collaborates on security issues, a stance that is widely regarded as unpopular among Palestinians who perceive it as collaborating with the occupation. Israel contends that the authority has not sufficiently countered militant activities or reduced incitement.
This committee is anticipated to commence its functions following an agreement for a ceasefire with Israel, as noted by the Hamas representative. American and Arab mediators have been engaged in efforts to establish such a ceasefire for nearly a year, encountering repeated setbacks in the process.
The conflict escalated following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and involved the abduction of around 250 individuals. Currently, an estimated 100 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least a third presumed deceased.
In retaliation, Israel has conducted offensives resulting in over 44,000 Palestinian fatalities, predominantly among women and children, according to local health agencies, which do not distinguish the number of combatants among the deceased. Israeli military actions have devastated much of the coastal enclave and displaced a significant portion of its 2.3 million residents.