US Pushes New Palestinian Administration in Gaza Outside Hamas Control Amid Disarmament Deadlock

The Trump administration, facing stalled negotiations with Hamas over disarmament, is advancing a plan to establish a new Palestinian administration in approximately 60% of the Gaza Strip, specifically in areas not controlled by Hamas but currently under Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) control. This initiative aims to bypass Hamas by creating an alternative governing authority focused on reconstruction and stabilization.

The plan involves deploying a Palestinian technocratic government, which has been operating from Cairo, into these Gaza areas. Alongside this, a new Palestinian police force, currently training in Egypt, would be introduced, supported by an international stabilization force. The goal is to rebuild the territory and encourage Palestinians living under Hamas to relocate to these zones, effectively allowing them to "vote with their feet."

Senior officials from the Peace Council, including Director-General Nickolay Mladenov and American diplomat Aryeh Lightstone, presented the framework to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. For the first time, Netanyahu and the Peace Council agreed on the necessity of formulating an alternative to the current Gaza governance. The US and Peace Council emphasized to Netanyahu the importance of Israeli cooperation with this civilian-led initiative to avoid renewed military conflict.

The Trump administration and the Peace Council argue that all options for a peaceful resolution have not yet been exhausted and that Israel should support this alternative plan. The proposal reflects a strategic shift to stabilize Gaza through governance and reconstruction efforts outside Hamas control, aiming to reduce tensions and foster long-term stability in the region.