Hamas presents new proposal to temporarily administer Gaza after war ends

Hamas leader Hussam Badran said the movement proposed that an independent government made up of figures not affiliated with any party oversee the Gaza Strip and the West Bank after the war.

A member of Hamas's political bureau added, "We proposed that a competent, non-partisan national government should administer Gaza and the West Bank after the war."

The Hamas leader confirmed in press statements on Friday that the movement had shown "great flexibility" in discussions with mediators but stuck to its demand that "Israel agree to a permanent ceasefire."

Badran stressed that "the management of Gaza after the war is an internal Palestinian affair that should not be subject to any external interference."

He stated that the movement will not discuss the post-war phase in Gaza with any external party.

An unnamed Hamas official also said in press statements that "the proposal to form a non-partisan government was presented with mediators."

The official explained that this government will manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in the initial phase after the war, and will prepare the ground for holding general elections.

On Thursday , the American newspaper "The Washington Post" said that Israel and Hamas indicated their acceptance of the "interim rule" plan, in which the movement or Tel Aviv will not rule Gaza.

Security will be provided by a US-trained force backed by Arab allies, comprising about 2,500 Palestinian Authority supporters in Gaza who have already been vetted by Israel, she said.

An American official confirmed that Hamas informed the mediators that it was "prepared to give up power for interim governance arrangements."

In addition, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that meetings were held with the negotiating team, while the delegation will visit Cairo to continue talks regarding the Rafah and Philadelphi crossings.

The Israeli delegation, led by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, is visiting Cairo this evening to continue talks aimed at reaching security understandings  regarding the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor. The arrangements regarding the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor are not part of the agreement, but rather Egyptian-Israeli-American understandings.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement that "the negotiating delegation returned last night from the Qatari capital, Doha, after a four-party meeting of mediators (Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Israel)."

The office added that during the meeting, "the terms of the deal for returning the hostages and ways to implement its outlines while ensuring all the goals of the war were discussed. Following his return, Netanyahu held meetings with the negotiating team."

The statement indicated that "a delegation headed by the head of the General Security Service (Shabak) with representatives of the Israeli army is scheduled to leave for Cairo this evening to continue the talks."

Egyptian-Israeli talks continue in Cairo regarding the conditions for reopening the Rafah crossing, as well as regarding the Philadelphi Corridor, which began on Tuesday with American participation, according to what the Walla website reported from a senior Israeli official.

Hamas accused the Israeli government of procrastination in order to thwart the negotiations.