Hamas and Fatah close to an agreement on the governance of Gaza after the war

Palestinian officials said Fatah and Hamas — the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union — are close to reaching an agreement to appoint a political committee of independent technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip after the war ends.

If such a deal is reached, it would effectively end Hamas' rule in Gaza and could help advance ceasefire talks with Israel.

The rival factions have made several failed attempts to reconcile since Hamas took power in Gaza in 2007. Israel, meanwhile, has dismissed the possibility of Hamas or Fatah having any role in post-war Gaza.

Fatah dominates the West-backed Palestinian Authority.

A Palestinian Authority official confirmed on December 3 that an agreement had been reached after weeks of talks in Cairo. The official said the committee would have 12-15 members, most of them from Gaza.

This committee would report to the Palestinian Authority, which is based in the occupied West Bank, and would work with local and international parties to facilitate humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza.

A Hamas official said the radical group and Fatah had agreed on the general terms, but were still negotiating some details and the individuals who would be part of the committee. The official said the deal would be made public after a meeting of all Palestinian factions in Cairo, without giving a time frame for when that might happen.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak to reporters about these negotiations.

Israel has not yet responded to these reports.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that his country will continue the war in Gaza until Hamas is disbanded and dozens of hostages are freed. He has said that Israel will retain control of Gaza indefinitely, while civil affairs will be administered by Palestinians who are not affiliated with the Palestinian Authority or Hamas.

The US has called for the revitalization of the Palestinian Authority in order to govern the West Bank and Gaza ahead of the formation of a possible state. The Israeli government, which opposes a Palestinian state, has reportedly discussed post-war plans with the United Arab Emirates, with which it has normalized relations in 2020. The Emirates support a rival faction of Fatah.

The Hamas official said the deal would fulfill one of Israel's war aims, which is to end Hamas rule in Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, recognizes Israel and cooperates on security matters, a policy that is unpopular among Palestinians, as many see it as aiding the occupation.

The war in Gaza began in October 2023, after Hamas attacked Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and kidnapping nearly 250 others. Close to 100 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza and at least a third of them are believed to be dead.

As a result of the Israeli retaliatory offensive, more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children./ REL