Palestinian Factions Agree Technocratic Gaza Administration

Major Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, agreed in Cairo to transfer administration of post-war Gaza to a temporary committee of independent technocrats to manage daily life, humanitarian needs and essential services in coordination with Arab states and international institutions. The joint statement called for meetings to unify a national strategy and to revitalize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of Palestinians, despite Hamas not being part of the PLO and its rivalry with Fatah. Delegations from Hamas, Fatah, Islamic Jihad, the DFLP and the PFLP are reported to be continuing talks as part of a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, and Hamas said mediators had given “clear guarantees” that the war had effectively ended. Reports say some U.S. officials have asserted Hamas cannot be involved in future governance and that any technocratic body will likely require U.S. approval; the broader plan is reported to foresee an international force with Israel able to veto contributing countries and a U.S. diplomat to monitor a ceasefire. Fadwa Barghouti has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to press for the release of imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, and Trump said he is weighing the request.