Hamas backs technocratic committee for post-war Gaza as ceasefire advances to second stage
A senior Hamas official has welcomed the creation of a technocratic committee to administer post-war Gaza, framing the step as vital to consolidating the fragile ceasefire and preventing a slide back into fighting.
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Egypt, a mediator in indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, announced the formation of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee. The body would operate under the overall supervision of a so-called “Board of Peace,” to be chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to the announcement.
“The formation of the committee is a step in the right direction,” said Bassem Naim, a senior leader in the Palestinian Islamist movement. “This is crucial for consolidating the ceasefire, preventing a return to war, addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis and preparing for comprehensive reconstruction.”
Hamas has repeatedly said it does not seek a role in any future governing authority in Gaza and would limit its involvement to monitoring governance. Naim said the group was ready to hand over administration of the territory to a national transitional committee and facilitate its work. “The ball is now in the court of the mediators, the American guarantor and the international community to empower the committee,” he said.
Naim urged mediators to counter what he described as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to “stall or obstruct” the next stages of the ceasefire.
The ceasefire, in place since Oct. 10, 2025, has left Gaza divided by a “Yellow Line” demarcating the boundary between areas controlled by Hamas and zones under Israeli military authority.
Washington’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the ceasefire has moved into its second stage. Core elements include the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, demilitarization of the territory — including the disarmament of Hamas — and steps to ease the humanitarian emergency through accelerated aid deliveries and reconstruction measures.
The U.S.-proposed Board of Peace is expected to be led on the ground by Bulgarian diplomat and politician Nickolay Mladenov, who has recently held talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials. Mladenov previously served as the United Nations envoy for the Middle East peace process from early 2015 until the end of 2020.
Media reports say Trump is expected to announce the members of the Board of Peace in the coming days, with the body set to include around 15 world leaders.
For Hamas, the technocratic arrangement offers a pathway to stabilize governance in Gaza without the movement directly entering a post-war administration. For mediators, it represents an attempt to lock in the ceasefire framework while addressing the immediate humanitarian and reconstruction demands that have mounted during the conflict.
Whether the new committee can operate effectively will hinge on the empowerment that Naim called for — from regional mediators, the American “guarantor” and broader international backing — as well as on the pace of Israeli withdrawals and the practical implementation of demilitarization and aid commitments outlined for the ceasefire’s second stage.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
