US warns against Hamas assuming governance role in postwar Gaza

Fighters from the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, arrive to collect Israeli hostages under the ceasefire agreement with Israel, in Gaza City. AP

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The US on Thursday warned against Hamas assuming any governance role in a postwar Gaza. US deputy ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea, who criticised the Palestinian group for its “brutal” attacks and “deplorable behaviour” throughout the conflict, insisted that Hamas, along with “its benefactors in Tehran”, should not have a say in the region's future.

“We must instead seize this opportunity to reshape the region in a way that affords its people a path forward,” Ms Shea told the Security Council.

She advocated for the demilitarisation of Gaza, which she said would enhance Israel's security and lead to a more hopeful future for the Palestinian people. Ms Shea expressed concern about reports that Hamas held returned Israeli hostages in UN shelters in Gaza during their long captivity and called for a “full investigation” to assess the “very serious” allegations.

The administration of former president Joe Biden had since November 2023 demanded that Gaza be “never again governed by Hamas or used as a platform for terrorism”.

After the recent Doha ceasefire agreement, President Donald Trump declared a commitment to “work closely with Israel and our allies to ensure that Gaza never again becomes a terrorist safe haven".

Former US secretary of state Antony Blinken highlighted continuing concerns in an address on the Biden administration’s Middle East policy at the Atlantic Council. He said that Hamas has replenished its ranks that had been lost since October 2023.

“We assess that Hamas has recruited almost as many new militants as it has lost,” Mr Blinken said last week. “That is a recipe for an enduring insurgency and perpetual war.”

As international efforts focus on establishing a stable administrative authority for Gaza, the Israeli military plans to initiate a gradual withdrawal from key areas including the densely populated zones, the Philadelphi corridor along the Egyptian border, and the Netzarim corridor that bisects the territory.

This move is expected within the next 60 days to aid in the resettlement of displaced people. A full Israeli withdrawal marks the second phase of the proposed plan, with discussions on reconstruction and governance set for a third phase.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to outline a clear plan for Gaza after the conflict, beyond declaring that the militant group will not be involved and expressing distrust in the Palestinian Authority.

Established by the Oslo Accords 30 years ago to manage parts of the occupied West Bank, the PA, according to Mr Netanyahu, cannot be relied on under its present leadership.