The provisional Palestinian committee, responsible for civil governance of the Gaza Strip during the post-conflict transition phase, met for the first time on Friday in Cairo.
This recently formed technocratic body is called upon to temporarily administer the Palestinian territory, ensure the continuity of essential services and prepare the reconstruction of the enclave, hard hit by the fighting.
Made up of fifteen Palestinian experts from key sectors of civil administration, the committee is chaired by Ali Shaath, former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority. This committee will sit provisionally in the Egyptian capital until conditions allow its installation in Gaza. This transitional configuration aims to guarantee progressive and secure implementation of the governance system.
The committee's work is part of the second phase of the US peace plan, recently announced by US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. This phase provides for the establishment of a technocratic Palestinian civilian administration, operating under the supervision of a "Peace Council" with an American presidency, alongside the deployment of an international force responsible for ensuring stability and security during the transition.
According to participants, the inaugural meeting focused on urgent humanitarian needs, the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure and the first stages of reconstruction. Ali Shaath indicated that this would be carried out in accordance with the plan drawn up by Egypt in coordination with Arab-Muslim countries, a plan which excludes any population displacement outside the Gaza Strip.
The committee adopts a distribution of tasks by areas of expertise, according to a sectoral logic, in order to effectively structure civil governance. The portfolios cover energy, transport, health, agriculture, education, finance, economy, water, as well as social affairs and women's issues. The security aspect must, for its part, be managed in coordination with the international mechanisms provided for in the transition plan.
The system also provides for a progressive disarmament of Hamas, according to gradual and non-violent modalities, within the broader framework of the ceasefire in force.
