Report: Hamas building the new Gaza government

Despite being barred from any direct or even indirect role in post-war government, Hamas reportedly being allowed to select half of the members of the supposedly “non-partisan, technocratic” committee charged with ruling Gaza.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Hamas is playing a central role in the formation of the administrative body charged with governing the post-war Gaza Strip, according to a report by Israel’s national broadcaster.

Under the terms of the Trump administration’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, after the termination of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Gaza Strip will be governed by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities.”

The US peace plan also bars Hamas from any role “directly, indirectly, or in any form,” in the governance of post-war Gaza.

However, according to a report published Tuesday morning by Kan Reshet Bet, Hamas has selected roughly half of the members of the supposedly “technocratic” administrative committee, appointing individuals who quietly endorse Hamas’ principles.

Arab mediators – including the Egyptian government – are aware of the terror group’s involvement in choosing the future administrators, the report said.

The report also claimed that the remaining members of the technocratic committee have been selected by the Palestinian Authority.

In December 2024, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority signed an agreement in Cairo under which the two agreed to jointly appoint a committee tasked with ruling the Gaza Strip after the war with Israel.

The deal marked a compromise between Hamas’ demand to retain a direct role in the governance of Gaza and Ramallah’s insistence that the coastal enclave be placed entirely under its control, mirroring the situation from 2005 to 2007.

Israel has repeatedly objected to either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority having any role in the post-war governance of the Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday, Minister Ze’ev Elkin (New Hope) said that any involvement by Hamas in building the post-war government in Gaza would disqualify the committee.

“Israel will not accept Islamist Hamas operatives ruling Gaza,” Elkin told Kan Reshet Bet. “Anyone who saw the sights in Gaza knows that nearly all residents of the Gaza Strip are supporters of Hamas — that is the reality.”

“In my view, one must not agree to registered members of the Hamas movement participating in this government. But will the Gazans who are there be peace-seekers? Those do not exist and I think Hamas eliminates whoever does. Therefore the question of dismantling Hamas is tricky.”