Cairo [Egypt], January 16: Hamas leaders and representatives of other Palestinian factions in Gaza are in the Egyptian capital Cairo for talks on the second phase of the United States-led Gaza ceasefire deal, amid a teetering ceasefire that Israel has repeatedly violated as its genocidal war continues.
The Palestinian group on Thursday welcomed the establishment of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee that would operate under the overall supervision of a so-called "Board of Peace", to be chaired by US President Donald Trump.
"The formation of the committee is a step in the right direction," said Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas leader.
"This is crucial for consolidating the ceasefire, preventing a return to war, addressing the catastrophic humanitarian crisis and preparing for comprehensive reconstruction."
Deep uncertainty remains over the next steps involving the disarmament of Palestinian armed groups in the Strip, rebuilding and daily governance.
An adviser to the head of Hamas's political bureau told Al Jazeera that discussions in Cairo are focusing on reopening the Rafah crossings, ensuring the entry of aid currently stockpiled on the Egyptian side of the border and securing an Israeli withdrawal.
Taher Al-Nunu said Hamas "must work with mediators and the international community to achieve calm and a return to normalcy in Gaza" and praised the "great efforts" being made to implement what was agreed upon.
Al-Nunu also accused Israel of attempting to derail the ceasefire and said Hamas was "working with mediators to open the crossings, allow aid in and secure the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip".
However, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, known as Kan, reported that Israeli officials consider the so-called yellow line - a buffer zone in eastern Gaza - as a strategic area that will remain under Israeli control.
Israel's current military occupation of Gaza is more than 50 percent of the besieged enclave.
The leaders of Palestinian armed groups were also scheduled to meet Bulgarian diplomat and politician Nickolay Mladenov, who will likely head the Board of Peace. Trump is expected to announce the 15 members of the technocratic committee in the coming days.
Palestinian Vice President Hussein Al-Sheikh welcomed efforts to move ahead with the Gaza plan and argued that institutions in Gaza should be linked to those run by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank, "upholding the principle of one system, one law and one legitimate weapon".
In a joint statement, the other mediators of the ceasefire deal - Egypt, Turkiye and Qatar - called the announcement an "important development aimed at consolidating stability and improving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip".
They welcomed the establishment of the Palestinian technocratic committee and said it would be led by Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the PA.
The administrative body will be tasked with providing public services to the more than two million Palestinians in Gaza, but it faces towering challenges and unanswered questions, including about its operations and financing.
The United Nations has estimated that reconstruction will cost more than $50bn. The process is expected to take years, and little money has been pledged so far.
Shaath told local broadcaster Basma Radio on Thursday that the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will be fully integrated with the PA under a "one homeland, one system" framework and that no foreign members will be included.
Source: Qatar Tribune
