Hamas, PA agree on post-war plan for Gaza

Fatah and Hamas officials say their organisations have agreed on the establishment of a committee for the administration of Gaza, as proposed by Egypt.

The proposal calls for the committee to administer the supply and distribution of humanitarian aid, civic affairs, Gaza's reconstruction and management of the Rafah Border Crossing with Egypt – as was the case until 2005.

The committee, to be known as the "Communal Support Committee," would be established by presidential order by Mahmoud Abbas and would be subordinate to the Palestinian government on administrative, financial and legal matters.

But there are questions over whether Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government will go along with any involvement of the Palestinian Authority in the management of Gaza. Netanyahu is reported to show increasing support for Israeli occupation and resettlement of Gaza, being promoted by his far right coalition partners.

The ceasefire with Lebanon and the election of US President Donald Trump have placed increasing pressure on Hamas to come to an agreement with Israel.

The ceasefire means Hamas has lost the support of Hezbollah, which had previously vowed to continue to fight as long as the war continued in Gaza.

Trump’s election means international pressure on Israel is likely to wane, with Netanyahu expecting a more reliable veto in the United Nations Security Council, a quicker flow of key weapons, and intense pressure on the International Criminal Court as it goes after the Israeli leadership.

This week Trump threatened that “if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity.”

The significance of Trump's statement was debated. “Trump has elevated overpromising and underdelivering to an art form. Why should freeing the hostages be any different?" wrote Rachel Fink in Haaretz.

She noted the effusive gratitude of Netanyahu, far right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and President Isaac Herzog. “It was not entirely clear what exactly these men were so thankful for. That is, until Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spelled it out at the beginning of Monday night's cabinet meeting. "Trump put the emphasis in the right place, on Hamas, and not on the Israeli government, as is customary," Netanyahu stated.

"In other words, 'Thank you, President-elect Trump, for temporarily distracting the public from the fact that some of us have made no effort to bring back the hostages, and that a number of us have also actively hindered those who seek to secure their release'."

Writing in the Times of Israel, Lazar Berman said Trump's erraticism meant his threat had to be taken seriously.

“It’s not clear what Trump might do to back up his threat, but his disdain for norms makes his ultimatum credible in the region. He could make Iran pay for Hamas’s intransigence through sanctions, strikes on oil and gas sites, or even attacks on Revolutionary Guards forces and Shia militias outside Iran,” Berman wrote.

READ MORE

Hamas, Fatah agree to jointly manage postwar Gaza under Palestinian Authority (Haaretz)

Isolated Hamas faces collapsing negotiating stance after drastic Trump threat (Lazar Berman, Times of Israel)

Trump's threat to unleash 'Hell' on Gaza: As hollow as Netanyahu's gushing praise (Rachel Fink, Haaretz)

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