ByDANA BEN-SHIMON

JUNE 10, 2026 10:27

Senior Fatah figure Jibril Rajoub has come out against a proposed Palestinian technocratic panel to oversee the Gaza Strip, a stance that clashes with the Palestinian Authority position under Mahmoud Abbas.

In remarks shared across Arab outlets, Rajoub voiced strong opposition to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, describing the idea as an Israeli-backed effort to widen the rift between the West Bank and Gaza.

"The Gaza committee is an Israeli recipe for reinforcing Palestinian division," Rajoub said. "We should never have agreed to or accepted the committee under any circumstances."

He explained that he has resisted the notion of this new panel from the beginning, viewing it as a deliberate attempt to block Palestinian unity and the creation of one Palestinian state.

"Any step should have been based on the unity of the Palestinian territory and the unity of the Palestinian political system under the umbrella of the PLO, as well as the unity of the service apparatus under a single government," Rajoub said in a podcast interview.

He added that he sees the committee as already unsuccessful, noting that its success would have left Palestinians with two separate peoples, governments, and states.

Fatah official contradicts PA's endorsement for post-war Gaza plan

Rajoub's comments stand at odds with the PA's formal backing of the new technocratic body, which operates under supervision from US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace as part of post-war arrangements in Gaza.

PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas voiced support for the Gaza committee soon after its launch in January. The Palestinian presidency issued a statement welcoming President Trump's efforts to advance his peace plan and endorsing the panel's role in managing the Gaza Strip during the transition.

Although the statement stressed the need to connect PA institutions across the West Bank and Gaza while avoiding systems that entrench separation, its core message conveyed approval for the committee and reflected the PA's aim to steer clear of friction with the Trump administration.

The development unfolded against Israeli government resistance to any PA involvement in Gaza, alongside the PA's recognition that it could not take charge of the territory until Hamas is fully removed.

The PA has treated the committee as a workable interim measure for the transition out of conflict and into reconstruction, one that might eventually support unified rule over all Palestinian areas under the PLO.

Rajoub told The Jerusalem Post that he alone opposed the policy chosen by Palestinian leaders on this issue. His statements, which challenge the PA's public position, follow his recent re-election to Fatah's central committee in Ramallah.

Hamas' reluctance to disarm holding up peace process

The NCAG is responsible for civil administration in the strip, handling everyday matters and delivering public services such as preserving civil order and security. It was slated to start work in Gaza with the second stage of Trump's peace plan. For the time being, however, it operates from Egypt and has yet to enter the territory.

Progress has stalled over disarmament questions, chiefly Hamas's refusal to fully surrender its weapons. Spokespeople for the group have blamed delays on Israel's alleged breach of the ceasefire and its hesitation to withdraw from Gaza.

In recent days Hamas conducted talks in Cairo with other Palestinian groups and mediators on mechanisms to carry out the Gaza ceasefire deal and understandings about future administration of the strip.

Group spokesperson Hazem Qassem said on Tuesday that Hamas and the factions showed flexibility in the discussions and reached several acceptable approaches. Hamas official Taher al-Nounou reported that progress had been made.

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported that the draft agreement refers to restriction and storage of weapons, with arms to stay under the control of a Palestinian entity and not be transferred to any outside party.