Fatah spokesman Abdel Fattah Dawla told Asharq Al-Awsat that his movement “will not stand in the way of any proposed name for the [Gaza Administration Committee], which will be composed of professional figures from the Strip.”
Palestinian factions, excluding Fatah, agreed during an October 24 meeting in Cairo to “support and continue implementing the ceasefire measures and hand over the administration of Gaza to a temporary Palestinian committee formed from independent figures from the enclave.”
They also agreed to “establish an international committee to oversee the funding and implementation of Gaza’s reconstruction, while reaffirming the unity of the Palestinian political system and the independence of the national decision.”
The factions called for “an urgent meeting of all Palestinian forces and factions to agree on a national strategy.”
Following the meeting, disputes surfaced over who would head the committee expected to govern Gaza after Israeli media reports claimed the factions had agreed to appoint Amjad al-Shawa as chairman of the committee.
Dawla said that “Fatah stresses that the framework for the administrative committee managing Gaza was agreed upon a year ago with all factions, including Hamas, which recently reaffirmed its approval before the Cairo meeting.
The understanding stipulated that the committee would operate under the legitimate framework of the Palestinian government, chaired by one of its ministers, in a manner that ensures the unity of the administrative and institutional system of the Palestinian state.”
He added: “The statement issued by the group of factions in Cairo recently contradicted what had been agreed upon, which calls for clarification and correction to preserve the spirit of understanding that underpinned the latest meetings.”
Commenting on statements made by senior Hamas official Taher al-Nounou, Dawla said: “We hope his remarks reflect Hamas’s official and unified stance in support of forming a committee of professionals chaired by a minister in the legitimate government, rather than being a mere media statement that is soon followed by a contradictory one.”
The Fatah spokesman said that if Hamas officially adopts the position presented by al-Nounou, “it would mark an important step toward strengthening Palestinian unity, advancing the early recovery and reconstruction plan, and managing the Gaza Strip under a unified national vision that safeguards our people’s interests, national unity, and the legitimacy represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine.”
“In Fatah, we are not concerned about names as much as we are about the essence of the understanding and the integrity of the political and administrative reference for the committee,” Dawla said, adding: “We respect that the committee will consist of professional figures from Gaza, and we will not oppose any proposed name.”
“There are many qualified and capable individuals among our people in the Gaza Strip who can serve responsibly and professionally, away from factional considerations, and who will enjoy national consensus.”
Dawla declined to give details about potential nominees, but a senior Fatah official told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Palestinian Health Minister Dr. Maged Abu Ramadan remains among the names proposed to head the Gaza Administrative Committee.”
“As a minister in the Palestinian government, a native of Gaza, and a respected national figure with strong credentials and field experience, he is well qualified to assume this responsibility.”
In a televised interview from Doha on Wednesday, al-Nounou confirmed that Hamas had proposed 45 names of independent technocrats to join the administration committee, saying the candidates have no political affiliations and were approved by all Palestinian factions during the October 24 meeting.
Al-Nounou added that Hamas had agreed to Fatah’s proposal that the head of the committee be a minister in the Palestinian Authority.
He said the names were discussed with Egyptian officials, and that Cairo would select the committee members, who would immediately begin administering all aspects of Gaza, including security, without interference from Hamas or any other party.
