Hamas and Fatah groups close to agreement on post-war Gaza governance

2024-12-04 20:25:48, Kosova & Bota CNA

Palestinian officials say the groups Fatah and Hamas are close to reaching an agreement to appoint a commission of politically independent technocrats to administer the Gaza Strip after the war. Such a deal would end Hamas' rule and help advance cease-fire talks with Israel.

These two rival factions have made several unsuccessful attempts to reconcile since Hamas took power in Gaza in 2007. Israel, meanwhile, opposes any role for Hamas or Fatah in post-war Gaza. Fatah controls the Palestinian Authority, which enjoys the support of the West.

A Palestinian Authority official confirmed on Tuesday that an initial agreement had been reached after weeks of negotiations in Cairo. The official said the commission will have 12 to 15 members, most of whom will be from Gaza.

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

A Hamas official said Hamas and Fatah agreed on the general framework, but were still negotiating the details and the individuals who would serve on the commission. The official said the deal would be announced after a meeting with all Palestinian factions in Cairo, but did not give a timeline.

The two officials agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media about the talks. Israel has not commented on these developments.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and dozens of hostages are freed. It says Israel will retain control over security in Gaza indefinitely and will continue to maintain open corridors within the territory, while civilian affairs in the rest will be administered by Palestinians in Gaza who are not affiliated with the Palestinian Authority. and Hamas.

No Palestinians have volunteered for such a role, and Hamas has issued threats to anyone who would cooperate with the Israeli military.

The United States has called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to govern the West Bank and Gaza for a period of time before the eventual declaration of a Palestinian state. The Israeli government, which opposes the idea of ??a Palestinian state, is said to be discussing the post-war plan with the United Arab Emirates, with which Israel normalized relations in 2020 and which supports the Fatah wing.

The Hamas official said this Palestinian agreement would fulfill one of Israel's war aims, ending Hamas' rule in Gaza. It remains unclear whether Israeli officials will see this agreement as such.

Previous efforts to unify the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have failed, often because of the power struggle between the two rivals. Even now, there are factions within the groups that oppose the talks.

Fatah Secretary General Jibril Rajoub opposed the agreement, saying it was "a mistake that we agreed to discuss this issue." He said this solution would deepen the divisions between the West Bank and Gaza by agreeing to the creation of two administrations. He said Hamas should have allowed the Palestinian Authority to take back governance of Gaza. "We represent the unity of the land and the government," he said.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank, recognizes the state of Israel and cooperates with it on security matters, an approach that is unacceptable to Palestinians, many of whom consider it an accomplice of the occupier. Israel says the Authority has not done enough to combat militancy and hate speech.

The commission would take over after reaching a cease-fire agreement with Israel, according to the Hamas official. American and Arab mediators have tried over the last year to mediate such an agreement, but the negotiations have repeatedly stalled./ VOA