Fatah has demanded that any committee governing Gaza be led by the Palestinian Authority (PA), escalating tensions with Hamas as both factions navigate a fragile post-ceasefire landscape. The Palestinian National Liberation Movement emphasized Monday that legitimacy for Gaza's administration must stem from the internationally recognized PA, based in Ramallah.
Hamas, which dissolved its Gaza governance structures Saturday as part of post-October 2025 ceasefire plans, submitted 40 candidates for a technocratic committee to Egyptian mediators. Senior Hamas official Mohammad Nazzal accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the PA of opposing the proposal, claiming it threatens Israel's domestic political agenda.
The PA's limited practical influence in Gaza since the 2007 political split resurfaced as a key challenge. Fatah spokesperson Munther al-Hayek warned that Hamas's resistance to PA leadership could deepen the West Bank-Gaza divide, stating: "We need internationally recognized governance to mobilize global reconstruction support."
Violence flared Monday when an Israeli-backed militia killed Hamas police chief Mahmoud Al-Astal in Khan Younis, described by Hamas as an assassination by "collaborators." The incident underscores the precarious security situation as governance negotiations continue.
