Arabic version: جهود دولية لعزل حماس تتقدم في اجتماعات قبرص

Discussions regarding the future administration of Gaza are taking place in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, where a US-led Board of Peace, including notable figures like former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, is meeting. While a Hamas delegation engages with mediators in Cairo, the Board of Peace aims to create a roadmap to isolate Hamas from the Palestinian population and resources. According to Al Jazeera, the initiative is facing significant challenges, including financial crises and legal controversies.

The primary goal of the Board of Peace is to implement Article 17 of former President Donald Trump’s plan, which proposes a temporary reconstruction in areas free from Hamas control. This plan aims to establish humanitarian shelter compounds for civilians in the Tal as-Sultan area near Rafah, overseen by a multinational stabilization force. However, the strategy has been met with resistance, particularly from the “Israel Envelope Forum,” which warns that any reconstruction before the complete military and political defeat of Hamas is a strategic error.

The meetings in Cyprus have also been clouded by a leaked draft resolution suggesting that the Board of Peace seeks legal immunity for its members and contractors, raising concerns about potential violations of local and international law. Critics, including Israeli affairs expert Mohanad Mustafa, have labeled the Board’s intentions as potentially transforming it into a “colonial occupation authority.”

Despite the ongoing discussions, the Board of Peace faces significant hurdles, including a collapse in funding from donors who have retracted $17 billion in pledges. Additionally, Israel’s refusal to allow a Palestinian technocratic committee into Gaza complicates the execution of any reconstruction plans. The situation remains tense as Hamas expresses skepticism about the intentions behind these international efforts.