Hamas won’t participate in administrating Gaza in upcoming phase: Egyptian source

Ahram Online , Saturday 15 Feb 2025

A well-informed Egyptian source involved in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations revealed to Al-Qahera News channel on Saturday that Hamas has said it will not participate in the administration of the Gaza Strip in the upcoming phase.

Gaza
Palestinians stand next to tents surrounded by buildings that were destroyed by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip. AP

 

Israel and the United States have repeatedly rejected any presence of Hamas in the strip, which has been devastated by Israel's 15-month bloody war. 

Egypt has highlighted the importance of empowering the Palestinian Authority to take over a united Palestinian territory.

The source added that Hamas has affirmed its commitment to the three phases of the agreement.

It also said Egypt is intensifying efforts to establish a temporary committee to oversee relief and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier on Saturday, 24 Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails arrived at the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to be deported from Palestinian territories, Al-Qahera News reported.

This is the fourth group of Palestinian detainees to be exiled under the deal, which has been in effect since 19 January.

Egypt has served as a key mediator between Hamas and Israel and helped broker the ceasefire to end the war that Israel has waged against Gaza since 7 October 2023.

The Israeli war killed more than 48,000 Gazans and wounded over 110,000, most of whom were women and children.

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