Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today (Monday) that once the war in Gaza ends, neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority will rule the enclave. “As I have committed – the day after the war in Gaza, there will be no Hamas and no Palestinian Authority. I am fully committed to President Trump’s plan to create a different Gaza,” Netanyahu stated.
His remarks follow reports that Hamas has signaled willingness to relinquish control of Gaza and hand it over to the Palestinian Authority. According to sources cited by Sky News in Arabic, Hamas sent a letter to the PLO expressing readiness to transfer power in Gaza to a government committee under PA jurisdiction. Additionally, Hamas reportedly demanded that its government employees in Gaza either be integrated into the new administration or receive financial guarantees for their salaries if they opt to resign.
According to the sources, Hamas’s willingness to cede control comes after intense pressure from Egypt on the organization’s leadership during a recent visit to Cairo. Egyptian officials have been urging a political solution to prevent chaos in Gaza after the war and replace Hamas rule with an alternative governing body.
Netanyahu, however, has rejected any scenario involving the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza. He emphasized that Israel will act in line with Trump’s plan to establish a “new Gaza” – one free from both Hamas and the PA. According to Israeli diplomatic sources, Jerusalem intends to maintain tight security control over Gaza even after the war, while exploring alternative models for civil governance in the region.
