A newly formed technocratic committee tasked with overseeing Gaza’s transitional governance has been revealed, marking a significant development in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement to end hostilities in the region. The 15-member Palestinian committee will be led by Ali Shaath, former Palestinian deputy minister for planning, with oversight provided by Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, the former UN Middle East peace coordinator.
The committee’s formation follows Egypt’s Wednesday announcement that most Palestinian factions had reached consensus to support this technocratic governance structure, facilitating the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan. Mladenov is reportedly positioned to serve as high representative of a Donald Trump-led ‘Board of Peace’ responsible for monitoring the agreement’s implementation.
The committee features specialized appointments including Omar Shamali (Communications), Abdul Karim Ashour (Agriculture), Aed Yaghi (Health), and Aed Abu Ramadan (Industry and Economy). Additional appointments encompass Jabr al-Daour (Education), Bashir Al-Rayes (Finance), Ali Barhoum (Water and Municipalities), Hanaa Tarzi (Relief and Solidarity), and Adnan Salem Abu Warda (Judiciary). Completing the roster are Rami Tawfiq Helles (Endowments and Religious Affairs), Osama Hassan Al-Saadawi (Housing and Public Works), and Samira Helles (Energy and Transportation).
Notably, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have expressed agreement ‘to support the mediators’ efforts in forming the Palestinian National Transitional Committee to administer the Gaza Strip.’ Committee members were instructed to maintain confidentiality about their appointments to allow former President Trump to formally announce the initiative, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports.
The committee is expected to comprise Gaza-based figures with no political faction affiliations. Egypt is likely to host the committee’s inaugural meeting, with sources indicating coordination with Israeli authorities to facilitate travel for Gaza-based members. At least four prospective members have remained in Egypt since the conflict began.
The ceasefire agreement, which took effect in October, has faced implementation challenges due to continued hostilities. Palestinian health authorities report over 71,400 fatalities and 171,000 injuries since the conflict’s onset, with nearly 450 additional Palestinians killed since October amid ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid access.