GAZA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday urged international actors to pressure Israel to allow an independent Palestinian administrative committee to operate in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the failure of the international community, mediators, and the United States to enable the committee's entry into Gaza was undermining confidence in efforts to sustain calm, achieve peace, and establish governing councils to stabilize the enclave.
He urged all parties to "prove the credibility of their claims through practical steps," starting with allowing the committee to operate in Gaza and ensuring the success of its mandate in the next phase.
Qassem added that ceasefire talks are "meaningless" while Israel continues military operations across the Strip, accusing the Israeli government of disregarding previous agreements.
The administrative body, a technocratic committee led by Ali Shaath, a veteran engineer and former deputy planning minister in the Palestinian Authority, was formed in mid-January by Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye to manage Gaza during a transitional period.
The current ceasefire, in effect since Oct. 10, initially focused on prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid. A proposed second phase of the peace plan calls for a full Israeli military withdrawal, the disarmament of Hamas, and the start of reconstruction under a transitional governing authority. ■
