The leadership of Hamas says major Palestinian groups have agreed to hand over the running of the Gaza Strip to a temporary committee made up of experts (not politicians) once the current war ends.
They made this decision during a meeting in Cairo, according to a joint statement on Hamas’s official website. The group said the committee will “oversee everyday life and basic services” in Gaza, working alongside Arab countries and international organisations.
However, the meeting showed ongoing tensions. Representatives of Mahmoud Abbas and his party Fatah did not attend the talks — reportedly because they disagreed with Hamas’s involvement. The statement did not say if the Palestinian Authority (PA) or Fatah will join the new committee, or how its members will be chosen.
The factions also agreed to “take a united stance” on Palestinian issues and called for a broader meeting to set a national strategy. They proposed restoring the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the main representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas is not currently part of the PLO, which has been largely controlled by Fatah. The push for internal unity comes amid the widespread destruction in Gaza.
A source told the news agency AFP that Hamas and Fatah delegates met separately in Cairo to discuss a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, and said they will keep talking to “organise internal Palestinian unity”. Egyptian intelligence also met representatives of other Palestinian groups such as Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Despite past attempts at reconciliation after their split in 2006, deep mistrust still separates Hamas and Fatah, making long-term governance of Gaza difficult.
At the same time, U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio urged the formation of an international force in Gaza to monitor the ceasefire and help with post-war stability. While visiting Israel, Rubio said the goal is to finalise an agreement “as soon as possible” that leads to such a force. He met with military officials and said he was hopeful the two-year Gaza war could end fully soon. The plan, reportedly backed by Donald Trump, includes international monitoring and reconstruction once a formal truce is in place.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains severe. Although hostilities have eased since the October 10, 2025 ceasefire, large parts of the enclave are still badly damaged or under Israeli control. Over 68,000 Palestinians are reported to have died since October 2023, and millions are displaced and living in harsh conditions with little food or shelter.
