Joint Committee
CAIRO: Hamas and Fatah, the two dominant Palestinian political factions, have reached an agreement to form a joint committee to manage post-war Gaza.
The agreement, finalized during talks in Cairo facilitated by Egypt, aims to create a neutral body composed of 10 to 15 non-partisan individuals who will be responsible for key areas such as the economy, education, health, humanitarian aid, and the rebuilding of Gaza.
The proposed committee would also take charge of administering the Palestinian side of the Rafah checkpoint, which is the only crossing between Gaza and Egypt that does not involve Israel.
While the deal was reached in principle, it is still pending final approval from Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas. A delegation from Fatah, led by Azzam al-Ahmad, will return to Ramallah to seek Abbas’s consent.
On the other hand, the Hamas delegation was headed by Khalil al-Hayya, a senior member of the Hamas politburo.
This new development signals a significant shift in the longstanding rivalry between the two factions, which have been at odds since 2006 when Hamas ousted Fatah from Gaza after a series of violent clashes following its electoral victory.
The creation of this joint committee comes at a time when there are renewed diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the ongoing Gaza conflict, which was triggered by a massive attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The United States, in collaboration with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, is leading these peace efforts. This diplomatic push follows the implementation of a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
While the initiative represents a potential step toward unity in Gaza, it comes amid complex geopolitical pressures.
The US administration, set to transition from President Joe Biden to President-elect Donald Trump, has exerted pressure on the Palestinian factions, urging that Hamas should not have a role in Gaza’s future governance.
Furthermore, Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has made the dismantling of Hamas in Gaza one of its primary war objectives.
Additionally, Israel has consistently opposed any involvement by the Palestinian Authority in Gaza following the conflict’s conclusion.
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