Prospective Gaza Governor Outlines Conditions for Post-War Role

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Palestinian businessman Samir Hulileh has personally confirmed that he has been approached for a U.S.-backed role to govern a post-war Gaza and has outlined strict conditions for his acceptance, including a permanent ceasefire. This comes amid a comprehensive end-of-war plan being prepared by the United States, even as the Palestinian Presidency continues to firmly deny any official knowledge of such an arrangement, according to reports from Al-Monitor and Sky News Arabia.

In a direct interview with Al-Monitor, Mr. Hulileh, a Ramallah-based economist and senior political figure, confirmed much of what has been reported about the initiative.

He stressed, however, that he would only accept the governorship under specific and non-negotiable terms. His conditions include a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, clear agreements on the territory's borders and buffer zones, and secured reconstruction funding from Gulf states.

"Without a permanent ceasefire and agreement on the issue of border crossing and funding, I will not accept this difficult and next to impossible post," Hulileh told Al-Monitor.

The plan to appoint a governor for Gaza is reportedly being promoted by Ari Ben-Menashe, an Israeli-Canadian lobbyist, and coordinated under the auspices of the Arab League, as reported by Al-Monitor, which cited the Hebrew press.

In earlier statements to Sky News Arabia, Hulileh had clarified that the proposal involving his name was made over a year ago and that he had held "intensive consultations with President Abu Mazen, the Prime Minister, and other parties connected to the Palestinian Authority."

Despite these consultations described by Hulileh, the Palestinian Presidency has strongly refuted the reports.

An official source in the Presidency told the Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) that information about appointing a Palestinian figure to manage Gaza with the leadership's knowledge is "incorrect." The source, as reported by Sky News Arabia, emphasized that "the only entity authorized to manage the Gaza Strip is the State of Palestine, represented by the government or its agreed-upon administrative committee."

The situation is further complicated by Israel's official stance.

According to Al-Monitor, Israel’s security cabinet reaffirmed last week its opposition to any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza’s future civilian administration. This complicates the prospects for a governor like Hulileh, who has past affiliations with the PA.

While the Ramallah-based government insists on its right to appoint a "technocratic" committee as agreed upon at the Cairo Arab summit, Al-Monitor reports that the United States, potentially influenced by Israel, opposes a public role for the PA in Gaza's administration.

The complexities involve numerous key actors, including the Israeli government, the White House, Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas, whose position on a ceasefire remains central to any deal, Al-Monitor noted.

Momentum for a post-war plan has been building since a July 31 UN conference, where the Arab League and other nations urged Hamas to disarm and step aside to allow for a renewed drive toward Palestinian statehood.

Concluding his remarks to Sky News Arabia, Hulileh affirmed his position within the established Palestinian framework. "I am part of the Palestinian legitimacy, and Gaza cannot be managed as a separate project, as it is part of Palestinian sovereignty and the file must be handled wisely," he said.