Main Palestinian factions agree handover of Gaza to technocrats

The main Palestinian factions say they have agreed that an independent committee of technocrats will take over the running of Gaza after Hamas said it had received “clear guarantees” from mediators that “the war has effectively ended”.

- Lorenzo Tondo Jerusalem Patrick Wintour

A joint statement published on the Hamas website said the groups had agreed at a meeting in Cairo to hand “over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary Palestinian committee composed of independent ‘technocrats’, which will manage the affairs of life and basic services in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions”.

The wife of the Palestinians’ most popular leader, Marwan Barghouti, appealed yesterday to Donald Trump to intervene for his release from an Israeli jail, after the US president said he would “make a decision”.

In a letter addressed to Trump, Fadwa Barghouti, whose husband is serving multiple life sentences since 2002 for deadly attacks on Israelis but is seen by many Palestinians as a potential leader who could unite their national movement, urged Trump to push for his discharge.

“Mr President, a genuine partner awaits you - one who can help fulfil the dream we share of just and lasting peace in the region,” her appeal said. “For the sake of freedom for the Palestinian people and peace for all future generations, help release Marwan Barghouti.”