Hamas Advocates for Independent Palestinian Government in Post-War Gaza

Hamas is proposing during ceasefire negotiations that a neutral government of non-partisan figures govern post-war Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to a statement from a member of the Palestinian Islamist movement’s political bureau.

“We suggested that a non-partisan national competency government oversee Gaza and the West Bank after the conflict,” Hossam Badran stated about the ongoing discussions between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

“The governance of Gaza after the war is a Palestinian internal issue without any external interference, and we will not discuss post-war Gaza with any external parties,” Badran added.

A Hamas official confirmed to AFP that the proposal for a non-partisan government was made “through the mediators.”

This government would “manage the Gaza Strip and the West Bank initially after the war, leading to general elections,” said the official, who wished to remain anonymous.

Badran’s comments followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand that Israel maintain control of the Philadelphi corridor, a strip of Gaza territory along the border with Egypt. This demand conflicts with Hamas’ stance that Israel must withdraw from all Gaza territory after a ceasefire.

Netanyahu stated on Thursday that controlling the Philadelphi corridor is essential to prevent “weapons smuggling to Hamas from Egypt.”

The negotiations, taking place in Doha, Qatar, and Cairo, Egypt, aim to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the return of hostages held by Hamas.

The conflict began on October 7 with an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel, resulting in 1,195 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

The Palestinian militants also captured 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in Gaza, including 42 that the Israeli army claims are dead.

Israel’s military response has killed at least 38,345 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.