The leadership committee for Gaza, operating under U.S. oversight, held its inaugural meeting in Cairo, with a commitment from its head to swiftly address the region’s challenges. Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority official and engineer from Gaza, foresees a three-year timeline for reconstruction efforts, with an initial focus on urgent needs like housing.
In an interview with Egypt’s state-owned Al-Qahera News, Shaath expressed the Palestinian people’s anticipation for the committee’s intervention to alleviate their situation. U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed the committee’s role in governing Gaza following the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. Israeli troops have withdrawn from parts of Gaza post-ceasefire, with displaced Palestinians returning to damaged homes amidst ongoing hostilities.
Trump’s social media post on Thursday voiced support for the newly appointed Palestinian Technocratic Committee, known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, guided by a “Board of Peace” under his leadership. The committee will oversee day-to-day operations in Gaza, although the members of the supervisory board are yet to be revealed.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has witnessed mutual accusations of violations. Since the ceasefire began, over 440 Palestinians, including more than 100 children, and three Israeli soldiers have lost their lives. Challenges persist, including the recovery of an Israeli hostage, delays in border crossings, and Hamas’s reluctance to disarm.
The next phase of the ceasefire involves complex tasks such as disarming Hamas, further Israeli retreat linked to disarmament, and deploying an international peacekeeping force. In a separate incident in the West Bank, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, Mohammad Na’san, tragically lost his life during clashes with Israeli forces, marking the first child casualty in the region in 2026.
The situation in al-Mughayyir, a West Bank village, remains tense, with recent incidents of violence and land disputes. Israeli incursions have sparked confrontations, leading to casualties and destruction in the community. The year 2025 saw a significant toll of lives in the West Bank, with numerous casualties on both sides, according to the United Nations.
Additionally, two children were reported killed in Gaza, a seven-year-old girl, and a 16-year-old boy, near the Yellow Line. Their bodies were taken to al-Shifa Hospital, with no further details available at the moment.