CAIRO, Egypt: Hamas said on Sunday it would dissolve its existing government in Gaza once a new Palestinian technocratic committee takes over the territory under a US-brokered peace plan, though the group gave no timeline for the transition.
Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, Palestine’s internationally recognised representative, have not announced the names of the technocrats, who are not supposed to be politically affiliated, and it remains unclear if they will be cleared by Israel and the US.
The “Board of Peace,” an international body led by Trump, is supposed to oversee the government and other aspects of the ceasefire that took effect on October 10, including disarming Hamas and deploying an international security force. The board’s members have not been announced.
Meanwhile, the post-ceasefire death toll continued to rise in Gaza, with Israeli gunfire killing three Palestinians, according to Palestinian hospital officials.
The ceasefire began with a halt in Israeli bombardment and the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for thousands of Palestinians held by Israel.
The deal is still in its first phase as efforts continue to recover the remains of the final hostage left in Gaza.
Gaza ‘Board of Peace’
An Egyptian official, cited by The Associated Press, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door information, said Hamas was sending a delegation to talks with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish officials about moving to the second phase.
In comments posted on his Telegram channel Sunday, Hazem Kassem, a Hamas spokesman, called for speeding up the establishment of the technocratic committee.
The Egyptian official said Hamas will meet with other Palestinian factions this week to finalise the committee’s formation.
The Hamas delegation will be chaired by top negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, the official said.
Trump has said the “Board of Peace ” will monitor the committee and handle the disarmament of Hamas, the deployment of an international security force, additional pullbacks of Israeli troops and Gaza’s reconstruction.
The US has reported little progress on any of these fronts, though the members of the board are expected to be announced this week.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov has been selected as the board’s director-general.
Also on Sunday, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar met in Jerusalem with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
Israeli violations of ceasefire
Saar said Israel was committed to enforcing Trump’s plan, while Motegi expressed Japan’s willingness to play an active role in the ceasefire.
According to Japan’s Foreign Ministry, Motegi visited the Civil-Military Coordination Centre, where the ceasefire is being monitored.
In Gaza, two men were shot dead by Israeli forces in the southern town of Bani Suhaila, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies.
Earlier Sunday, a man was killed by Israeli gunfire in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City, according to Al-Ahly hospital, which received the body.
In violation of the ceasefire, continued Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed more than 400 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
The Israeli military says any actions since the ceasefire began have been in response to violations of the agreement.
