Gaza city: Palestinian group Hamas announced its readiness to facilitate the transfer of administrative responsibilities in the Gaza Strip to an independent committee, emphasizing its intention to remain outside any future governance arrangements in the territory. In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem expressed the group's anticipation for the formation of a committee of independents to manage Gaza's administration across various sectors, highlighting the support the proposal has already garnered from Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, the movement is committed to easing the handover process and supporting the committee's work. Hamas has long decided to stay outside any administrative framework for running the enclave. The announcement aligns with decisions made at an emergency Arab summit on Gaza in March 2024, which opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians and endorsed Egypt's Gaza reconstruction plan as a unified Arab initiative. The plan suggests creating a temporary administrative committee to manage Gaza during a six-month transitional period, composed of non-factional technocrats under the Palestinian government's authority, an arrangement previously welcomed by Hamas.
Hamas' statement also followed reports from the Israeli news website Times of Israel, indicating that US President Donald Trump is expected to unveil the second phase of his Gaza proposal next week, despite reported Israeli reservations. The report stated that Trump plans to introduce the establishment of a 'peace council' and other governing bodies for Gaza after a delay of several weeks. Trump had unveiled a 20-point plan on Sept. 29, 2025, aimed at ending the Israeli war in Gaza, which included a ceasefire, release of Israeli captives, Israel's withdrawal from the enclave, a technocratic administration, and an international stabilization force, alongside a call to disarm Hamas.
On Nov. 18, 2025, the UN Security Council adopted a US-backed resolution for the deployment of a temporary international force in Gaza through the end of 2027 to maintain stability under a unified command. Despite the ceasefire agreement on Oct. 10, the Israeli army has committed numerous violations, resulting in the deaths of 424 Palestinians and injuries to 1,189 others, as reported by the Health Ministry. The ceasefire ended Israel's two-year war that resulted in nearly 71,400 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children, and injuries to over 171,200 others since October 2023, leaving the enclave devastated.