DaysofPal – Hamas and allied Palestinian factions have affirmed that the future governance of the Gaza Strip will be decided solely by Palestinians, rejecting any foreign oversight as a fragile ceasefire takes effect following months of devastation.
In a joint statement on Friday, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) hailed the resilience of Palestinians, saying their steadfastness had “foiled Israel’s plans for mass forced displacement.”
“We renew our rejection of any foreign guardianship,” the factions said. “The nature of the administration of the Gaza Strip and its institutions is an internal Palestinian matter to be determined by the national component of our people directly.”
The factions announced plans for an “urgent comprehensive national meeting” aimed at unifying the Palestinian position and charting the post-ceasefire phase.
“This will unify the Palestinian position, formulate a comprehensive national strategy, and rebuild our national institutions on the foundations of partnership, credibility, and transparency,” the statement added.
It remains unclear whether Fatah, the ruling faction of the Palestinian Authority (PA), will participate in the proposed talks.
Trump’s Gaza Plan and Uncertain Governance
The ceasefire, brokered under U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, introduces a complex framework that includes the formation of an international body called the “Board of Peace.” According to the proposal, Trump himself would chair the board alongside former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, overseeing an interim technocratic authority to govern Gaza.
While the first stage of the ceasefire is linked to this plan, the future of Gaza’s administration remains uncertain, as Palestinian factions reject external control.
Under the agreement, 600 aid trucks are to enter Gaza daily, along with efforts to rehabilitate water stations and establish shelter camps for displaced residents.
As the truce took effect on Friday, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians began returning to their homes in northern Gaza amid scenes of widespread destruction.
The Palestinian Civil Defence reported retrieving 63 bodies from the streets of Gaza City since the ceasefire began. Thousands more remain missing beneath the rubble, as rescue teams struggle to reach areas still under Israeli military control.
Local witnesses described near-total devastation across the city. “On the way to Gaza City, as we approached the main entrance on the coastal road, it was already unrecognizable by the vast destruction of buildings,” one account said. “When we left, there were a handful of buildings still standing. On our way back, we saw none.”
Call for Reconstruction
Later on Friday, the Gaza Government Media Office urged the international community to adopt a comprehensive reconstruction plan, emphasizing that recovery must begin with clearing debris and rebuilding essential infrastructure.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement allows the entry of equipment to remove rubble, a critical step before full reconstruction can begin. The deal also assigns the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations to distribute aid, bypassing the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The GHF, a U.S.- and Israel-backed entity, has been accused by rights groups of operating in dangerous conditions that led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians attempting to reach its aid distribution points inside Israeli-controlled areas. Human rights monitors have described the mechanism as a “death trap.”
Despite the criticism and the new ceasefire terms, GHF said it would continue operations.
“GHF’s team on the ground continues to provide humanitarian aid and food to all those who need it,” said John Acree, the foundation’s executive director. “We will not rest so long as there are Gazans in need. It’s our mission, and it continues on.”
However, GHF whistleblowers have documented severe abuses committed in and around the group’s distribution sites, raising further questions about its future role under the new arrangement.
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