In recent weeks, Israel's War Cabinet approved enlisting the help of Gaza residents affiliated with the dominant Palestinian Authority faction Fatah to secure the entry of humanitarian aid into the strip and prevent potential diversion to Hamas.
The move involves both Gazan security personnel linked to Fatah as well as the Palestinian Red Crescent aid group. Israel coordinated this effort with senior Palestinian Authority official Majed Faraj, the head of the PA's General Intelligence Service.
Just this past Sunday, these Fatah-affiliated elements secured the entry of trucks carrying humanitarian aid into Gaza City. According to Israeli security sources, the personnel were armed only with batons and no firearms. However, reports from Gaza indicate some of them were killed by Hamas members during the operation.
Three weeks prior, journalist Suleiman Maswadeh reported that in closed discussions, Faraj's name was proposed by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as someone who could be temporarily appointed to oversee civilian life for Gaza's residents and secure humanitarian aid deliveries. Faraj is considered a close ally of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The collaboration with Fatah seems to run against statements from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said repeatedly that in the aftermath of the current Gaza conflict, there will be no "Hamastan" nor a "Fatahstan" governing the territory. Netanyahu has ostensibly refused any entry of the Palestinian Authority into Gaza after hostilities concluded. Yet contrary to his public stance, the War Cabinet approved enlisting Gaza's Fatah elements in cooperation with the PA.
However, the fact that Hamas managed to kill some of the Fatah personnel brought in to secure aid underscores Netanyahu's claim – that as long as Hamas maintains control, it will not be possible to transfer governing authority in Gaza to any other group.
One security official told Israel Hayom, "Netanyahu opposes the entry of Fatah on the day after, but not now when the IDF is inside the Strip. It is preferable to position local elements at the forefront to secure the convoys."
Adding to the contradictions, Defense Minister Gallant recently told the extended War Cabinet that rule by local Palestinian elements in Gaza should be promoted, "even if they look towards Ramallah from time to time" – suggesting governance by Fatah-aligned groups would be acceptable.
