Major Palestinian political factions, including Hamas, have reached an agreement to let an independent committee of technocrats take over the running of post-war Gaza. Following talks in Cairo, the groups decided to transfer control of the territory to a temporary committee of independent technocrats tasked with managing daily affairs and basic services in coordination with international agencies and Arab partners.
According to officials familiar with the talks, Hamas agreed to the plan after receiving assurances from mediators—Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—that the fighting had effectively come to an end. The factions also called for an urgent national meeting to establish a unified political strategy and for the revitalisation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas is currently outside the PLO, which remains dominated by its long-time rival, Fatah.
The factions outlined a series of conditions for Gaza’s recovery, including the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, the lifting of the blockade, and the reopening of crossings. They also called for the deployment of temporary international forces to oversee the ceasefire and maintain stability, as well as the creation of a committee to supervise funding and reconstruction projects.
Yet even as Palestinian groups seek unity, reports suggest a parallel project is underway to reshape Gaza’s political order without Hamas. Multiple sources described a coordinated effort, referred to by one leader as the “New Gaza” initiative, supported by Israel and involving four Palestinian militia groups operating in areas vacated by Israeli troops.
One commander claimed his 500-strong militia was permitted to bring in cash, weapons, and vehicles, and said the group received regular deliveries of goods that are scarce elsewhere in the territory. Two militia leaders said they were current or former members of the Palestinian Authority’s security forces, although the PA has denied any involvement. Coordination with Israeli forces is reportedly handled indirectly through the District Coordination and Liaison Office (DCO), the military coordination offices established in the West Bank and Gaza in 1994 that manage the movement of Palestinians, both within the West Bank and into Israel.
Meanwhile, there is growing demand for the release of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, seen by many as a unifying figure. His wife has appealed directly to President Donald Trump to intervene, and reports suggest Trump is considering whether to back the move.
In Washington’s view, Gaza’s future is bound to Trump’s peace plan. During a recent visit to the region, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed American commitment to the initiative, calling it the “only plan” capable of ensuring lasting peace. His remarks came as part of a broader diplomatic effort to stabilise the situation, with US officials reportedly concerned that actions by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government could undermine the agreement.
Rubio outlined the plan’s key conditions, emphasising that Gaza must no longer harbour groups capable of threatening Israel or Palestinians themselves. He insisted that Hamas must be disarmed and barred from governing in any form, warning that refusal to comply would constitute a breach of the deal.
A central feature of the Trump plan is the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), to which several countries have offered troops. Rubio said Israel must approve all participants, a remark widely interpreted as a reference to Turkey, whose involvement Israel has reportedly vetoed despite Ankara’s offer to help. He conceded that implementing the plan would be difficult, warning of inevitable “bumps along the road”. Rubio also ruled out any future role for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, accusing it of acting as a subsidiary of Hamas.
He argued that a sustained peace could pave the way for further Arab states to join the Abraham Accords and normalise relations with Israel.
Meanwhile, Gaza faces an unprecedented humanitarian and reconstruction crisis. UN figures show that nearly four fifths of all buildings have been damaged or destroyed, leaving more than 61 million tonnes of debris. In Gaza City, the destruction reaches 83 per cent of structures. The UN Environment Programme warns that much of the rubble is contaminated with hazardous materials, including asbestos and industrial waste.
Despite the ceasefire, the World Health Organization says conditions remain “catastrophic”, with aid deliveries still severely restricted and widespread hunger persisting. The UN’s top court has ruled that Israel must allow UN aid into Gaza. Around a million people are believed to require psychological support, while the health system teeters on the edge of collapse. Only 14 of 36 hospitals are operating even partially, and the WHO estimates that 15,000 patients, including 4,000 children, need medical care outside the territory. At the current rate, it could take a decade to evacuate them all. More than 700 people have already died waiting for transfer.
Security remains fragile. The United States has reportedly asked Israel to provide advance notice of any military operations in Gaza and to avoid surprises that could destabilise the truce. Satellite images appear to show new boundary markers placed hundreds of metres inside Gaza, beyond the limits agreed under the ceasefire.
The deployment of the International Stabilisation Force remains uncertain. Diplomats acknowledge that without an understanding between Hamas and the broader Palestinian factions, stabilising Gaza could prove impossible—and the territory’s long-term future remains unresolved.
