Gaza's Governance: Uncertainty Persists Despite Ceasefire

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The future of Gaza remains clouded with uncertainty, even after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. Both Israel and the United States, along with the Palestinian Authority, have rejected the idea of any governance in Gaza involving Hamas. Despite being significantly weakened by Israeli military operations, Hamas has not been eradicated, leaving its potential influence over Gaza unresolved.

 

Reports from Israeli media reveal that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the notion of replacing Hamas with an interim Arab coalition. Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, along with Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority, had reportedly supported the idea. However, Netanyahu stated that such a coalition would not materialize “before total victory and the eradication” of Hamas had been achieved.

 

The U.S. administration has consistently called for a Gaza that is “never again governed by Hamas or used as a platform for terrorism,” reiterating this stance since November 2023. Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of this goal, saying it was crucial for achieving "a lasting peace."

 

"For many months, we’ve been working intensively with our partners to develop a detailed post-conflict plan that would allow Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza, prevent Hamas from filling back in, and provide for Gaza’s governance, security, and reconstruction," Blinken said during remarks at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. He confirmed that the plan would be handed over to the incoming Trump administration to advance its implementation.

 

After the Doha agreement, President-elect Donald Trump pledged to collaborate closely with Israel and U.S. allies to ensure Gaza “NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven.” However, his administration has yet to outline specific intentions for Gaza’s governance or its position on the Biden administration’s plan.

 

Blinken proposed that the Palestinian Authority should work with international partners to establish and manage an interim administration responsible for essential civil sectors in Gaza. "The international community would provide funding, technical support, and oversight," he noted. He further emphasized that this administration would involve “Gaza Palestinians and Palestinian Authority representatives, selected after genuine consultation with Gaza residents.” The power would then transition “to a fully reformed Palestinian Authority administration as soon as it’s feasible.”

 

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, speaking in Oslo, insisted that "it will not be acceptable for any entity other than the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza." He added, "We are the government of Palestine, ready to assume our responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as we did before."

 

Despite these discussions, the future hinges on several factors: Israel’s willingness to make compromises, the Trump administration's regional strategies, and the role of Palestinian actors. The Palestinian Authority faces questions about its legitimacy, while Hamas, though weakened, remains a significant player.

 

Adding to the complexity, Israeli reports in January highlighted that Hamas continued to demand a role in Gaza’s governance as a precondition for negotiations on releasing Israeli hostages. This unresolved tension underscores the deep challenges facing any long-term resolution in Gaza.

 

Based on a report by AFP 2024-01-18

 

 

[jcmj]

Far from over. Just news old Biden wanted to claim before he left the office so Trump could take the fall when it fails after getting into the office. Israel still wants them all killed and not willing to give up the strip. Still a big mess coming up.  

[Cryingdick]

The only thing certain is they are never giving up all of the hostages.