Hamas has announced its intention to form a ‘technocratic government’ to govern the Gaza Strip, based on the consensus of Palestinian factions.
This move comes in response to repeated statements from Israel and the US asserting that Hamas cannot govern Gaza after the war, as well as the insistence of the Tel Aviv administration to continue the war under the pretext of Hamas following the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Basem Naim, a Hamas official, stated that the organization aims to form a ‘technocratic government’ with the consensus of Palestinian factions to govern the Gaza Strip.
“There are efforts to end the division, and intensive work is being carried out to form a national unity government,” Naim told Al-Aqsa TV. “We aim to form a technocrat government agreed upon by the Palestinian factions to manage the situation in Gaza,” he added.
In November last year, Hamas and Fatah met in Cairo to discuss the post-war governance of Gaza. After a series of meetings, they reached an agreement on the governance of Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, stated after the meeting that they accepted the proposal to establish a committee for the administration of Gaza, on the condition that this committee would be entirely local.
Regarding the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement reached between Hamas and Israel, Naim said, “The first phase is the humanitarian phase. In this phase, children, women, and the elderly will be released.”
He added that after the first week of the agreement, Israeli forces will withdraw from Rashid Street in the west of the Gaza Strip, allowing displaced individuals to return to the north of the Gaza Strip on foot without any obstruction or search.
Naim also mentioned that, under the supervision of Qatar, vehicles returning to the north of Gaza will undergo a control process using devices.
Rafah border crossing to open in a few days
It was also announced that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will be opened in a few days after renovations and arrangements are completed on the Palestinian side. Hamas reiterated its aim to form a technocrat government to govern Gaza.
According to the Egyptian daily al-Watan, Khaled Megawer, the governor of North Sinai, inspected the Rafah Border Gate within the province. Following his inspection, Megawer stated, “The Rafah Border Gate will be opened from both sides in a few days, which will allow aid to enter more easily.”
Megawer noted that there was destruction on the Palestinian side of the border gate during the recent period and that the gate will be opened immediately after repairs are completed.
According to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the Rafah border crossing is set to reopen on Saturday, January 25.
The Israeli army occupied the Philadelphia Corridor, including the Rafah Border Gate, in May 2024. Following the occupation, the Rafah Border Gate—the only exit point for Palestinians in Gaza to the outside world—was closed. The closure led to a decrease in the rate of aid entering Gaza, as reflected in the data. Additionally, seriously wounded Palestinians and patients in need of treatment abroad were prevented from leaving Gaza.
