Trump administration 'to unveil' US-led Palestinian committee to run Gaza
The United States is preparing to unveil a committee of Palestinian technocrats to govern the Gaza Strip, according to Arab and American media reports on Wednesday.
Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian deputy minister for planning, is expected to lead the 15-member committee, which would be overseen by former UN Middle East peace coordinator Nickolay Mladenov.
The former Bulgarian diplomat is reportedly set to serve as the high representative of a Donald Trump-led “Board of Peace” tasked with overseeing the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
Mladenov visited Israel last week, where he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Palestinian figures.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that committee members were instructed to keep their appointments confidential so that Trump could formally announce the initiative.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
“We were told that President Donald Trump should be the first to announce the formation of the committee,” one member told the Doha-based news outlet.
The committee is expected to include figures from Gaza who have no affiliation with any Palestinian political factions in the besieged territory.
Sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Egypt is likely to host the committee’s first meeting and is coordinating with Israeli authorities to allow some Gaza-based members to travel. At least four members have remained in Egypt since the war began.
Hamas discusses the committee
According to Al Araby TV, a senior Hamas source said the group has no objection to the proposed names for membership of the committee.
A Hamas delegation led by senior leader Khalil al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for talks on the committee and the implementation of the ceasefire.
The delegation also took part in a meeting with other Palestinian factions on Wednesday to discuss the committee’s formation.
Ayed Abu Ramadan, chairman of the Gaza Chamber of Commerce, is expected to be on the committee. Its formation, and the transfer of governing powers in Gaza to the committee, was part of the US-mediated ceasefire agreement signed between Hamas and Israel in October.
However, other key elements of the agreement have yet to progress, including the formation of an international force, an Israeli military withdrawal and the disarmament of Hamas.
The ceasefire was intended to end a two-year genocide in Gaza in which Israeli forces have killed more than 71,400 Palestinians and wounded at least 171,000 others, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Despite the truce, Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire. Since October, nearly 450 Palestinians have been killed, border crossings have remained largely closed, and restrictions remain on the entry of humanitarian aid.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
