Fatah, the party led by the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmud Abás, and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamás) have signed an agreement for the creation of a joint committee intended to coordinate the management of the Gaza Strip once the military offensive ends Israeli in the enclave. This document, recognized by the Palestinian agency Maan, focuses on the creation of a civil body with the aim of meeting the needs of Palestinians and strengthening political unity between Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The thought that opens the pages includes compromises to form a professional civilian committee responsible for managing the internal aspects of Gaza. This committee will tend as its main objective to address local concerns, without weakening the authority of the Palestinian Authority, currently supported by Mohamed Mustafa. Furthermore, the document establishes six fundamental principles, among them the preservation of the territorial integrity of the Palestinian state, defined under the 1967 borders, and the compromise of not allowing the creation of this committee to lead to a political separation of Gaza from most Palestinian territories.
According to the text, the committee will be made up of “qualified and competent” people, whose mission will be to ensure effective management in key areas such as health and education systems, humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of the enclave. Furthermore, it is specified that this body will work in coordination with the local authorities in Gaza, always with the aim of benefiting the Palestinian population.
A temporal mandate and choices as a future solution
The affection established by this committee will have a temporal character and will function in Gaza until the circumstances that motivated its creation disappear. Alternatively, the committee will dissolve its functions if it holds elections or accepts a new political formula that replaces its mandate. This compromise reflects years of negotiations between Fatah and Hamas, marked by failed attempts at political reconciliation and reunification of the Palestinian leadership.
The pact was signed in Egypt with the mediation of Cairo, which created a key document as a facilitator of conversations between Fatah and Hamás. The next step to implement this agreement will be the issuance of an official decree by Mahmud Abás, which will promulgate the formation of the committee. According to the document, this body will be integrated between 10 and 15 people selected based on their honesty, experience and transparency.
The context of the response: the conflict in Gaza and Egyptian mediation
The feeling between Fatah and Hamás was produced by an Israeli offensive in Gaza, which began between the October 7, 2023 attacks, perpetrated by Hamás and other Palestinian groups. These attacks leave a total of 1,200 dead and a total of 250 people kidnapped. In response, Israel launched a military campaign against the enclave with the explicit aim of dismantling Hamás, considering it an existential threat.
Egypt has adopted a central role in the negotiations between the parties, seeking not only an internal political solution between Fatah and Hamas, but also advancing towards a high fire between Israel and Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry confirmed that delegations from both Palestinian groups went to Cairo to participate in talks aimed at formalizing the recognition of the management committee under the control of the Palestinian Authority.
The devastation of Gaza: an alarming human toll
The Israeli military offensive has had a devastating impact on Gaza. According to information from local authorities controlled by Hamás, more than 44,400 Palestinians have died since the start of the conflict. Furthermore, an estimated 800 Palestinians have lost their lives in the West Bank and Jerusalem, as a result of clashes with Israeli forces and attacks on settlers.
In northern Gaza the humanitarian situation is particularly critical. The Civil Defense of Gaza has informed that there are still hundreds of corpses found under the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Israeli bombings. According to the organization's leader, Mahmud Basal, more than 70% of the victims in this region have not been recovered due to the scale of the destruction. «We are receiving calls from citizens who are sure to stay alive under the escombros», stated Basal, who called for an urgent intervention by the international community to prevent these people from dying before being rescued.
The organization also found that the number of unrecovered heirs could have exceeded 10,000, an alarming figure that likely increased due to intense attacks in areas such as Beit Lahiya, Yabalia and Beit Hanun, to the north of the enclave. In this region, bombings caused more than 3,700 deaths, while the civilian population faced an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
International reactions and tensions in Israel
The proposal to create a joint management committee has generated various opinions in the region. On the one hand, Egypt and other international mediators realized that they had taken a step towards internal Palestinian reconciliation and a possible solution to improve the management of Gaza. On the other hand, the Israeli government has not made an official pronouncement on the document signed between Fatah and Hamas. However, the possibility of Hamás participating in any management mechanism in Gaza could generate strong opposition within the Israeli executive, where some ministers have already planted the need to maintain tight control over the enclave.
Israel has made clear that one of the objectives of its offensive is the elimination of Hamas as a political and military actor in Gaza. Whatever meant that its participation in the administration of the territory could be seen as an obstacle to this goal, this would further complicate the prospects of a high-fire or broad-based political solution.
A buried future for Gaza and Palestinian reconciliation
The agreement between Fatah and Hamás represents significant progress in efforts to resolve the political division that has marked Palestine for years. However, its implementation will depend on numerous factors, including the ability of ambassadors to overcome its historical differences and work for the benefit of the Palestinian population. Furthermore, the context of the conflict in Gaza and tensions with Israel will follow with major challenges for any stabilization efforts in the region.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with thousands dead and left behind, and a civilian population trapped amid violence. The international community faces pressure to act urgently to alleviate Palestinian suffering and promote political solutions that advance peace and reconstruction.
The commitment signed in Egypt, although limited in its scope, could be a first step towards the political reunification of Palestine and the best of Gaza's administration. However, the path to a lasting solution continues to be uncertain, marked by internal tensions, conflicting interests and a humanitarian crisis that requires an immediate response.
