Israel rejects Gaza governing committee logo over similarity to PA emblem
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Israel has rejected a new logo adopted by the Palestinian technocratic body set to oversee Gaza’s affairs, citing its similarity to that of the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Monday that the logo presented to Israel was “completely different from the one published this evening”.
“Israel will not accept the use of the Palestinian Authority’s symbol, and the PA will not be a partner in the administration of Gaza,” the office said in a statement.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) is a 15-member body of Palestinian technocrats, established last month by the US-led so-called “Board of Peace” to replace Hamas in the war-battered strip.
On Monday, the NCAG changed its logo on its social media pages to feature a golden eagle bearing a Palestinian flag at its centre, closely resembling the PA’s emblem.
The only distinction between the two designs is the Arabic text at the bottom, with the NCAG’s logo carrying the committee’s acronym rather than the word “Palestine”.
Previously, the committee’s logo depicted a bird formed from the colours of the Palestinian flag.
Israel has repeatedly said it will not allow the PA to play any role in Gaza’s future.
The NCAG, which is led by former PA deputy minister Ali Shaath, includes figures from Gaza with no affiliation to any Palestinian political factions.
Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2006, said on Monday that it had completed all preparations to hand over authority to the NCAG.
Members of the new committee, who have been holding meetings in Egypt in recent weeks, are expected to enter Gaza in the coming days via the Rafah crossing to assume responsibility for managing the territory’s affairs.
New committee
Formally announced on 15 January, the committee will be overseen by Bulgarian former UN Middle East peace coordinator Nickolay Mladenov.
Mladenov will serve as the high representative of the “Board of Peace”, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
Other members of the NCAG include Omar Shamali, who would oversee communications; Abdul Karim Ashour, overseeing agriculture; Aed Yaghi, responsible for health; and Aed Abu Ramadan, for industry and economy.
Jabr al-Daour will oversee education, Bashir al-Rayes will deal with finance, Ali Barhoum will oversee water and municipalities, Hanaa Tarzi will be responsible for relief and solidarity, and Adnan Salem Abu Warda will oversee the judiciary.
Rami Tawfiq Helles will handle endowments and religious affairs, Osama Hassan al-Saadawi will oversee housing and public works, and Samira Helles will cover energy and transportation.
Meanwhile, Sami Nasman, a retired senior Palestinian Authority security officer and a longtime critic of Hamas, will become the minister of security.
In 2015, a Gaza court sentenced Nasman, in absentia, to 15 years in prison for inciting “chaos” and allegedly orchestrating assassination attempts against Hamas leaders, Asharq al-Awsat reported.
