Hamas & Fatah reach agreement to form committee to govern civil affairs in post-war Gaza

Fatah, the main party that leads the Palestinian Authority (PA), and the Hamas terrorist organization signed a document agreeing to form a joint committee to oversee the post-war Gaza Strip, according to the Qatari-funded news site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

On Tuesday morning, the news site published a copy of the document it claims was signed to establish the “Community Support Committee for Administration of Gaza."

This was following several discussions held between Fatah and Hamas representatives in Cairo last week, according to the report. 

The document still requires the approval of the PA chairman and president, Mahmoud Abbas. 

The committee, which will also be subject to U.S. supervision, will reportedly include a group of technocrats tasked with jointly managing civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip, operating under the oversight of the PA

The report came one day after Egypt’s foreign minister said that rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas had arrived in Cairo for talks seeking to create a post-war administration for Gaza.

The two-page document defines the makeup of the committee that will manage Gaza “as the Palestinian government, responsible for all sectors (health, economy, education, agriculture, services, and essential facilities).

The document also gives the committee authority over humanitarian relief work in Gaza following the war, as well as reconstruction efforts. 

Gaza has been under the authority of the Hamas terrorist group since it took control of the Gaza Strip after violent clashes with Fatah in the 2007 “Battle of Gaza.”

Repeated attempts to reconcile Fatah and Hamas by various external powers, including Russia, China, and Arab states, have failed. 

However, due to Hamas’ weakened position in the Gaza Strip after 14 months of war, and the loss of most of its civil and military leadership in Gaza, it likely had little leverage to impose conditions. 

The document describes the creation of a committee of 10-15 qualified experts from Palestinian society “known for their integrity, experience, and transparency.” The committee will reportedly feature a hierarchical structure, including a president, vice president, and departmental heads overseeing key areas such as health, education, humanitarian aid, and the economy.

The proposed committee is expected to assume ultimate civil authority in Gaza, including oversight of ports and land crossings on the Gaza side. However, it remains unclear whether Israel will initially agree to transfer such authority. If Israel consents to the committee’s establishment as part of a ceasefire agreement, it could hand over control of such areas in a gradual way. 

The talks between Fatah and Hamas are part of an Egyptian effort to leverage the Lebanon ceasefire in order to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal between the State of Israel and Hamas.

The document laid out six principles largely designed to keep Judea and Samaria, internationally known as the West Bank, united with Gaza under one political entity based on the vision of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. 

Furthermore, the document indicates that the committee is designed to be a temporary solution, performing its tasks until the “reasons for its establishment are removed, general elections are held, or another agreed-upon formula is adopted.” 

It remains unclear whether Israel would agree to the deal being formulated, as it has repeatedly rejected any role for Hamas in Gaza at the end of the war. Israel has also said that the PA would need to be significantly “reformed” to have control over civilian affairs in Gaza. 

While the Egyptian effort is intended to secure a ceasefire agreement close to the Jan 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, Israel appears to believe it can wait for Trump to be in office, hoping to receive more favorable negotiating conditions.