Informed Palestinian sources told "Asharq Al-Awsat" that Hamas has neither responded nor decided regarding Israel's stance on transferring any funds to the Gaza Strip through the Palestinian Authority, considering that the movement could be part of the authority if a unity government is formed as planned. The sources added that "in the context of a comprehensive internal Palestinian agreement, the movement would not oppose the authority being a Palestinian reference within a mechanism for rebuilding the sector." They continued, "But it is too early to agree on this." The sources confirmed that this issue was part of the discussions between the Egyptian security delegation and Hamas leaders in Gaza yesterday.
Israel seeks to completely change its policy towards Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including the necessity for the Palestinian Authority to receive funds designated for reconstructing Gaza. The sources told "Asharq Al-Awsat" that the Israeli direction is part of a broader American and international approach as well, considering the authority as the legitimate entity the world can engage with, and its presence in Gaza would provide greater guarantees for a long-term truce. According to the sources, the reconstruction of the sector is fundamentally linked to a broader political agreement. For this purpose, efforts are underway to launch a new peace process that would bring the Palestinian Authority and Israel back to negotiations.
Israel also wants Qatari funds to be channeled through the authority, which is a point discussed by the Egyptian security delegation with Hamas. The delegation visited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday and discussed the matter with him as well. A presidential statement confirmed that the meeting addressed developments related to the ceasefire in Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank, as well as coordinating efforts aimed at reconstruction in Gaza and matters related to arranging the internal Palestinian house.
Israel has informed Egypt of its intentions regarding the funds, which Egypt is well aware of within the framework of discussions with the Americans and Europeans. Developments confirm what "Asharq Al-Awsat" reported regarding the fact that the war on the Gaza Strip has accelerated efforts to push for a new political process in the region, and that contacts and discussions for a ceasefire in Gaza and imposing a long-term truce were part of a broader plan to resume Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and reach a peace agreement.
It is known that the reconstruction of the sector, involving the United States, Egypt, Qatar, UN envoy to the Middle East Tor Wennesland, and the European Union, requires a "legitimate" entity with which all of these parties can engage; that entity is the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas from their perspective. Additionally, the reconstruction process requires a long and largely confirmed agreement, and the world prefers to work with an entity it can deal with, while Israel imposes significant conditions for a long-term truce.
