Cairo: The Gaza Strip will be administered by 15 Palestinian technocrats under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority (PA) if a ceasefire is reached, Egypt's foreign minister stated. This arrangement is set to last for a temporary period of six months, with an emphasis on administrative unity between Gaza and the West Bank.
According to Anadolu Agency, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced this plan during a press conference in Cairo, emphasizing that the initiative aims to foster administrative cohesion. However, he did not provide additional specifics on the implementation of the plan.
A delegation from Hamas arrived in Cairo to engage in discussions with Egyptian officials regarding a proposed 60-day ceasefire. This dialogue comes at a time when Israel is advancing a phased reoccupation strategy, recently approved by its Security Cabinet.
The focus of the negotiations is to revert to an original proposal, which includes a 60-day ceasefire, the release of captives, the freeing of Palestinian prisoners, and the unobstructed entry of humanitarian and medical aid into Gaza. This plan is seen as a step towards reducing ongoing tensions and addressing humanitarian concerns.
Israeli media reports suggest that the ceasefire proposal involves the release of 10 living Israeli hostages in two phases and the return of the bodies of 18 hostages in three phases. This would be in exchange for the release of some Palestinian prisoners and the facilitation of humanitarian aid to the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated that Gaza would be governed by a 'non-Israeli civilian administration' following the occupation of Gaza City. He mentioned that this administration would not be managed by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority but did not provide further details.
Israel is currently facing significant international criticism for its military actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 61,700 casualties since October 2023. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is confronting a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.