Omar Shaban's path for governing Gaza after the war: a temporary, independent technocratic administration that works with the civil servants who already run the Strip, a retrained police force, internationally monitored crossings, and a defined road to elections and Palestinian reunification.
Omar Shaban's path for post-war Gaza: an independent interim committee, the Strip's own civil servants, a retrained police and a road to elections.
Writing in 2024 and 2025, Shaban starts from hard assumptions: Israel will not accept a Hamas role in governing Gaza; Hamas did not bless the new Palestinian Authority government; and attempting to restore public safety or launch reconstruction without the de facto authority's remaining personnel would be “unrealistic and very risky”. He sees two phases: an interim of about two years under independent technocrats with international backing, then an elected government. Gaza has not voted since 2006, and 68% of its people are under 30.
No administration can restore order or launch reconstruction in Gaza without the civil servants of the de facto authority — by Shaban's estimate 20,000–25,000 people in health, education and infrastructure. They must be engaged, while Hamas members themselves would have no place in the future government or security force.
Recommendations
Appoint an interim committee of about fifteen independent, professional administrators with no political ties, screened and approved by Israel, the United States, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt, for a transition of roughly two years.
Engage the civil servants of the de facto authority in civil administration and reconstruction, with re-training where needed, while excluding Hamas members from the future government and security force.
Build a domestic police force from Palestinian Authority security personnel in Gaza and residual police of the de facto authority, trained and supervised by senior police professionals from Egypt, Jordan and Morocco.
Have the EU and the United States, with the PA crossings department, monitor the entry of materials, and open Rafah permanently so that qualified Gazans who left can return.
Give the committee access to the financial support it needs, and earn the community's acceptance through tangible services: food, medical care and stability.
Convene multilateral dialogues of international, regional and local actors to identify shared priorities — stability, security, humanitarian relief — and a foundational agreement that includes diverse perspectives on Gaza's governance.
Set out a roadmap to end the Palestinian division, beginning with the promise of elections within a defined timespan, leading to an elected government.
Expected outcomes
Sufficient stability to rebuild the territory and prevent a relapse of fighting.
Former civil servants accepting the new order because they are included in it.
If two years of rebuilding bring people support and the hope of a new election, Gazans “will see they have more options than violence.”