Hamas said on Saturday it had decided to dissolve the government bodies it runs in the Gaza Strip and was ready to hand over administrative authority to a technocratic committee, as talks began in Cairo on arrangements for Gaza’s governance under a ceasefire agreement.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group was prepared to transfer all administrative responsibilities to a “technocratic committee” and would facilitate “all necessary procedures” to ensure it could begin operating and serving Gaza’s population.
The announcement came as a senior Hamas delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Saturday evening for talks with Egyptian officials on forming the committee, a Hamas leader told Al Manassa. The delegation includes Khaled Meshaal, Hossam Badran and Zahir Jabareen.
The talks, attended by representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, are expected to focus on preparations for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, including reopening the Rafah border crossing in both directions, forming the Gaza administration committee, and enabling it to assume management of the territory, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A broader meeting of Palestinian resistance factions is scheduled to take place in Cairo on Monday to discuss obligations tied to the second phase of the ceasefire, the source added. The meeting is expected to approve the final composition of the Gaza administration committee, which would consist of 15 technocrats in addition to a chair.
Qassem’s statement follows an agreement reached by Palestinian factions during talks in Cairo on Oct. 24, which called for transferring administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary committee made up of independent experts from the territory. The factions also agreed to pursue steps to revitalize the Palestine Liberation Organization, describing it as “the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.”
Peace council initiative
The discussions on Gaza’s administration coincided with efforts to launch the International Board of Peace, an initiative expected to be headed by former United Nations Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov. The Bulgarian diplomat has begun a series of contacts in preparation for the step, including a meeting on Thursday with Palestinian Authority Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh.
Sources told Al Manassa last week that Egypt pressured Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to appoint Ramallah government Health Minister Maged Abu Ramadan to head the Gaza administration committee, citing Egyptian confidence in him and reported approval from Palestinian factions.
El-Sisi and EU official stress aid flow
These moves come as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed the need for full implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement during a meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
According to a statement from the Egyptian presidency Saturday, El-Sisi and Kallas emphasized the importance of ensuring the regular and unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and rejected any attempts to displace Palestinians. They also called for accelerating the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement and the reconstruction of the Strip.
Speaking separately in an interview with Egypt’s Al-Qahera News channel, Kallas said the European Union had held discussions with Egypt on possible cooperation to train Palestinian police forces to take control inside the Gaza Strip. She said the aim was to enable Palestinian police to impose order and assume responsibility for disarming Hamas, stressing that such a task should be carried out exclusively by Palestinian security forces.
Kallas said an international force intended to stabilize Gaza had not yet begun operations because countries willing to contribute troops were reluctant to become involved in the issue of disarming Hamas, a hesitation that has delayed the force’s deployment.
El-Sisi and Kallas also stressed the need to continue efforts to resume a political process aimed at reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.
Israel has refused to begin negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement until Hamas hands over the body of Israeli officer Ran Gvili, which Palestinian resistance groups say they have been unable to locate.
Israeli occupation forces have continued to violate the ceasefire since it took effect on Oct. 10, carrying out near-daily strikes on homes and tents sheltering displaced people.
