The committee appointed to govern Gaza with U.S. oversight held its inaugural meeting in Cairo on Friday, signaling a commitment to swiftly enhance living conditions in the region. Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority official and engineer hailing from Gaza, projects a three-year timeline for reconstruction and recovery efforts, prioritizing urgent necessities like housing.
Shaath expressed the Palestinian populace’s anticipation for the committee’s establishment and proactive engagement to aid them. The U.S. President, Donald Trump, extends support to the group’s governance in Gaza post the Israel-Hamas conflict. As Israeli forces withdrew from sections of Gaza following the ceasefire on October 10, a substantial number of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to their partially destroyed residences, amid ongoing reports of intermittent strikes.
Trump endorsed the newly formed Palestinian Technocratic Committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, backed by a High Representative, to guide Gaza through its transitional phase. The committee will manage day-to-day operations in Gaza, under the supervision of a “Board of Peace” led by Trump, composed of yet-to-be-disclosed members.
The ceasefire in Gaza has been marred by allegations of violations from both Israel and Hamas. Since the truce commenced in October, over 440 Palestinians, including more than 100 children, and three Israeli soldiers have been reported killed. Challenges loom ahead as Washington and its mediators navigate the second phase of the ceasefire, addressing issues like demilitarizing Hamas, facilitating Israeli withdrawals linked to disarmament, and deploying an international peacekeeping force.
In a separate incident in the West Bank, a 14-year-old Palestinian boy, Mohammad Na’san, was mourned by friends and family after being fatally shot by Israeli forces. The incident marked the first child casualty by the army in the occupied West Bank in 2026. While residents claim the attack was unprovoked, the Israeli military stated that their action followed Palestinians hurling rocks and setting fires.
The death of Na’san is the latest in a series of violent events in al-Mughayyir, a village east of Ramallah. The community’s agricultural lands are under Israeli military jurisdiction, with previous instances of olive grove destruction and a children’s park demolition by settlers and military forces. The UN reported that in 2025, 240 Palestinians, including 55 children, were killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank, while Palestinians were responsible for the deaths of 17 Israelis, including one child.
Additionally, two children lost their lives in Gaza on Friday, a seven-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy, near the Yellow Line. Their bodies were taken to al-Shifa Hospital, with no further details available at the moment.