Eurasia Press & News
“We will hand over the rule in Gaza to the Administrative Committee,” said Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas’ negotiating team, on October 26. The statement came on the heels of a meeting between Fatah and Hamas in Cairo under Egypt’s auspices, where both parties confirmed an agreement in which Hamas chose half of the members of the proposed committee, while Fatah chose the other half, according to Israeli sources. Egypt facilitated the Fatah-Hamas meeting independently. While the formation of this administrative committee aligns with President Donald Trump’s plan for an “apolitical Palestinian committee” to run Gaza, neither the United States nor Israel approved either this meeting or Hamas’ participation, which runs counter to the Trump peace plan.
Supporting the formation of the technocratic Administrative Committee doesn’t mean Hamas is looking to step aside. Al-Hayya asserted that the body would be temporary and pave the way for Palestinian elections and the establishment of a national unity government that includes Hamas. And, of course, Hamas is unlikely to choose representatives for the Administrative Committee who will go against its interests, undermining Trump’s plan to keep the terrorist group out of government.
Hamas’ Influence Over the Proposed Technocratic Government
Mohammed Nazal, a senior figure in Hamas, announced that the group had submitted a list of more than 40 potential candidates for the technocratic body. One of the names that was reportedly approved by Hamas, according to Israel’s KAN, is Amjad al-Shawwa, the deputy commissioner of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Gaza. Al- Shawwa apparently fits the bill because he “is pro-Hamas without being a Hamas man,” Palestinian sources told KAN.
But the main concern is less the individual candidates, and more that Hamas is proposing candidates at all.
Rifts Between Palestinian Factions on Gaza’s Post-War Governance
Arabic media reported that friction between the different Palestinian factions has begun to resurface as members of Fatah accused Hamas of orchestrating a “coup” the last time the two had an agreement on who gets to run the Gaza Strip — nearly 20 years ago. The friction emerged after reports that al-Shawwa would run the technocratic body. At the same time, Fatah asserted that only, “A minister in the Palestinian Authority’s government will be appointed as the head of the technocratic body, because the PA has the political and legal authority over the Gaza Strip.”
Since 2007, Hamas and Fatah have reached agreements for cooperation more than once, only to have one or both parties undermine them later. In this case, Fatah claims this latest agreement between the two sides affirmed that Majed Abu Ramadan, the Palestinian Authority’s minister of health, would head the technocratic body. Hamas denies it and claims that both parties had chosen al-Shawwa. Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa asserted that the Administrative Committee would only serve as a transitional body until the PA resumes control of Gaza, an outcome that Hamas will reject.
The U.S. Should Press Arab Partners To Ensure a Technocratic Body Free of Hamas’ Influence
Hamas’ attempt to influence the selection of the next governing body in Gaza shows its determination to maintain an influential role in governing the coastal enclave. Allowing the terror group to appoint half of the technocratic body contradicts previous Arab assurances that Hamas would have no place in Gaza. Washington should reject any Egyptian proposal that includes a list of names agreed upon through consultations between Hamas and Fatah, which contradicts a key provision of Trump’s plan.
Together, the United States and Arab partners such as Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates should play the primary role in developing a final list — in consultation with Israel — to guarantee a post-war Gaza free from Hamas’ influence. The White House should make clear to those partners that it expects them to avoid steps that open the door to Hamas.
