Gaza Administration Committee: Outstanding Issues and Awaited Mediators' Solutions
The formation of a "Gaza Administration Committee" remains at the forefront of the Palestinian and regional political scene, with intensive discussions continuing between the concerned parties and mediators to bridge the wide gap in viewpoints. Despite the urgent need for an administrative body to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip under the current catastrophic conditions, there are fundamental "outstanding issues" preventing the final announcement of the committee's formation, thus placing the onus on the mediators to find compromise solutions acceptable to all parties.
Obstacles to consensus
The main disagreements revolve around the nature of the powers granted to this committee and its political and administrative authority. While there is a push to form a technocratic (professional) committee, free from factional bias, to avoid international and Israeli vetoes, problems arise concerning the security file and who will control the territory, in addition to the mechanism for managing the crossings and distributing humanitarian aid. These points are considered "political landmines" that require careful de-escalation by the mediators in Egypt and Qatar to ensure that the agreement does not collapse once it comes into effect.
The historical context of the schism and its impact
The complexities of forming this committee cannot be separated from the historical context of the Palestinian division, which effectively began in 2007. Over the years, several reconciliation agreements (Mecca, Cairo, Beach, and Algiers) have failed to fully unify Palestinian institutions. Today, the proposal of a "Support Committee" or "Administration Committee" emerges as a temporary compromise to address the repercussions of the war, attempting to circumvent the "Who governs Gaza" dilemma that has long been the biggest obstacle to any unified political action, especially given Israel's categorical rejection of any role for Hamas in the future of the Gaza Strip.
The pivotal role of mediators and the international position
Mediators are playing a crucial role at this stage, as Cairo and Doha, in coordination with the United States, seek to formulate a proposal that will secure international acceptance for the committee, thus paving the way for the flow of reconstruction funds. The mediators understand that any new administrative body must operate under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority to be acceptable to international donors, which requires considerable flexibility from the Palestinian factions to prioritize the higher national interest over narrow partisan interests.
The importance of the committee and its expected impact
The paramount importance of this committee lies in its role as a "gateway to salvation" for initiating the early recovery phase. Locally, the residents of the Gaza Strip await an official body to manage their daily affairs, including health, education, and municipal services, amidst the widespread devastation. Regionally, the success of this committee will test the Arab world's ability to contain the crisis and prevent the displacement of Palestinians. Internationally, the formation of a professional and independent committee is a prerequisite set by the international community and the World Bank for launching the massive reconstruction projects needed in the Strip, making the resolution of outstanding issues a humanitarian and political imperative that cannot be postponed.
