As complexities pile up in Gaza’s political sphere and on the ground, attention has shifted to the transfer of administration in the Gaza Strip.
A decisive statement from the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza affirms its readiness to assume full control of institutions and powers, while disagreements persist with Hamas regarding how to handle security, particularly with the Interior Ministry.
Meanwhile, Israel continues violating the Gaza ceasefire, with numerous Palestinians being killed alongside an unprecedented escalation in settlement activity and settler attacks on Palestinian property in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Hamas to exclude former Palestinian intelligence officer
According to sources within the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, speaking to Arab media outlets, Hamas is reportedly seeking to exclude retired Palestinian intelligence officer Sami Nasman from the Interior Ministry post, which would be responsible for security within Gaza.
But Hamas’s efforts have so far been unsuccessful, given the insistence of mediators and the US on keeping Nasman in his position.
The sources added that this dispute arose after the removal of Rami Halas, who was in charge of the endowments and religious affairs portfolio, in response to the wishes of Hamas and other Palestinian factions.
Hamas still insists on keeping its security personnel within the agencies that the committee will oversee, the sources said, adding that this proposal is rejected not only by the committee’s administration but also by the executive body of the Peace Council and other parties, including the US and Israel.
According to the sources, the movement’s insistence on demands related to its security personnel and police forces aims to impose its presence – “in one way or another” – within the new operational framework.
They consider this approach to further complicate the committee’s ability to assume its responsibilities “properly.”
Hamas denies accusations
Hamas sources denied these accusations, explaining in press statements that Nasman, “as we understand from several sources, is not planning to come to Gaza at the present time.”
The sources considered this to raise questions about the seriousness of the Interior Ministry’s management, emphasizing that “without his presence in Gaza, he cannot exercise his authority.”
They added that Hamas had reservations about Nasman for some reason, but affirmed that, in reality, it “has no problem” with his arrival and assuming his responsibilities.
The Hamas sources also confirmed that the government institutions in Gaza are “ready for handover,” and that each ministry has detailed arrangements within a comprehensive system to complete the handover process “easily and without any obstacles.”
They emphasized that the movement is committed to the success of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
The sources did not rule out the possibility of “higher policies” being imposed on the committee, potentially impacting its work and turning it—as they put it— into “merely a tool for implementing those policies,” despite the movement’s public welcome of the committee’s work and its assurances that it would facilitate its tasks.
Israel’s destruction continues
Israeli gunfire from armored vehicles and drones, along with artillery shelling, resulted in injuries in Khan Younis in the south and in Nuseirat in central Gaza Strip.
Daily demolition operations targeting infrastructure and homes in areas on both sides of the “yellow line” continued in various parts of Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry said on Saturday that two bodies were recovered and 15 wounded people were admitted to Gaza Strip hospitals in the past 48 hours.
Since the ceasefire on October 11, the total number of dead has reached 591, the total number of injuries 1,598, and the total number of recovered bodies at 726.
According to the same report, the cumulative number of dead since the start of the war on October 7, 2023 has reached approximately 72,051, while the cumulative number of injuries has reached 171,706.
In the West Bank, the National Bureau for Defending the Land and Resisting Settlement stated in its periodic report on Saturday that the Israeli government is reneging on agreements with Palestine and has decided to deepen settlement activity and expedite annexation.
The report asserted that the priorities of the Israeli government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, have shifted, moving from the goal of absolute victory in Gaza to a course aimed at “eliminating the Palestinian Authority and canceling agreements”, alongside imposing a de facto annexation of the West Bank.
