GAZA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Hamas said Tuesday that government bodies in Gaza under its control have begun facilitating the work of a newly-formed Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with governing the enclave in the post-war phase.
Hamas is not setting any preconditions for the formation of the committee or the commencement of its work, but expects it to perform in an independent, professional and technical manner, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a press statement.
Since 2007, Hamas has run government institutions in Gaza following fighting with Fatah, which runs the West Bank. The result led to the coastal enclave, home to more than 2 million people, being governed separately.
Qassem said it is in the interest of all parties in Gaza to facilitate and ensure the success of the committee's work, adding that Hamas is working with mediators to pressure Israel to allow the committee to operate on the ground in Gaza.
The 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee to temporarily administer the post-war Gaza officially launched its work on Friday through a meeting in Cairo, prioritizing Gaza's "humanitarian file." The committee arrived in the Egyptian capital on Thursday, delayed by a day due to Israeli obstruction, an Egyptian source told Xinhua.
On Tuesday, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Israel is blocking the committee's entry into Gaza via the Rafah border crossing, leaving the group unaware of when or how it will begin its work on the ground.
Meanwhile, violence continues in the enclave on Tuesday. Gaza-based health authorities said hospitals across the enclave received one body and seven injuries over the past 24 hours.
Since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in October 2025, at least 466 Palestinians have been killed, raising the total death toll since October 2023 to 71,551, they said. ■
