GAZA/CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye announced on Wednesday the completion of the formation of a Palestinian technocratic committee to administer the Gaza Strip, according to a joint statement issued by Egypt's Foreign Ministry.
A source close to the committee, speaking to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, said the body will consist of 15 members whose names were agreed upon by Palestinian parties as well as the United States and Israel.
The committee will be headed by Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath, a veteran engineer and former deputy planning minister in the Palestinian Authority. It will oversee key sectors including health, education, security, justice, and civil services.
The committee will be supervised by the proposed "Peace Council," led by Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov. It is expected to hold its first meeting within the next two days in Cairo, co-chaired by Mladenov and Shaath, marking the official start of its work and the adoption of an initial 30-day action plan.
Offices funded by donor countries are expected to open inside Gaza in the coming days to ensure direct coordination with the needs of the territory's approximately 2 million residents, according to the Palestinian source.
Aed Abu Ramadan, a nominee for committee membership, told Xinhua that selected members have been officially informed and coordination is underway for those currently inside Gaza to assume their duties according to their areas of expertise.
He said the committee aims to function as a professional framework to ensure the continuity of basic services, reorganize economic and productive sectors, and prepare the groundwork for recovery and reconstruction.
The three mediators described the move as "an important development" toward enhancing stability and improving humanitarian conditions in Gaza, expressing hope that it would pave the way for the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
On Wednesday, the U.S. administration announced the launch of the second phase of the Gaza peace deal, shifting focus from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction, U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff said on X.
Earlier, the Palestinian presidency announced its support for forming a Palestinian committee to administer Gaza during the transitional phase. It also emphasized the importance of linking institutions in the West Bank and Gaza and rejecting the establishment of parallel administrative, legal, or security systems that could deepen division.
Hamas said the start of the second phase is a "significant positive development." Spokesman Hazem Qassem called on the U.S. to "compel Israel to fulfill all obligations of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement and move forward toward the second phase." He reiterated Hamas' readiness to hand over Gaza's administration to an independent technocratic committee and facilitate its work.
Qassem also highlighted Hamas' willingness to engage in "internal Palestinian discussions on the issue of resistance weapons," emphasizing that the movement's current priority is launching a genuine relief process to rescue Gaza's cities.
The developments coincide with the presence of a Hamas leadership delegation, led by Khalil al-Hayya, in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials on completing the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas has administered Gaza since the 2007 internal Palestinian divisions, leading to separate governance of the enclave, which has suffered extensive damage and casualties during Israeli offensives.
A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has been in place since Oct. 10, 2025, with its first phase allowing prisoner exchanges, entry of humanitarian aid, and partial Israeli withdrawals from parts of Gaza.
The proposed second phase includes a full Israeli military withdrawal, large-scale reconstruction, and the establishment of a transitional governing authority for the enclave. ■
