Months of preparation for a post-war phase in Gaza have produced early plans addressing governance, security, and humanitarian relief, yet these efforts remain largely theoretical amid ongoing security concerns, political stalemates, and funding shortfalls. The Gaza Strip, home to more than two million Palestinians, faces complex challenges as local and international actors seek pathways to stabilize and rebuild the devastated territory.
Security arrangements are central to discussions around Gaza’s future. Israel insists that Hamas must disarm before any progress can be made, while Hamas refuses to relinquish its weapons before Israeli forces withdraw and a Palestinian governing authority is established. However, an official from the Board of Peace, a US-led initiative established by former President Donald Trump to aid post-war planning, indicated that the disarmament of Hamas is no longer treated as a precondition for advancing practical steps on the ground. The official described ongoing efforts as oriented around a "worst-case scenario,” including the creation of a pilot humanitarian zone in Rafah, in southern Gaza, which could eventually accommodate tens of thousands of vetted Palestinians.
A proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF) is under consideration to help maintain order, with Morocco, Kosovo, Albania, and Kazakhstan reportedly actively engaged in the initiative. A logistical base near the Kerem Shalom crossing inside Israel is nearing completion, designed to host an initial rotation of approximately 500 troops prior to any deployment into Gaza.
Efforts to establish a Palestinian police force are underway, with about 20,000 applications submitted. Yet, significant obstacles remain. Diplomatic sources indicate that training has not commenced, as Israel has rejected a current list of recruits following security vetting. Israel has also argued that a potential force of 5,000 officers would be excessively large for Gaza’s security needs.
Humanitarian needs in Gaza are acute, with the United Nations estimating that reconstruction will take several years and require tens of billions of dollars. Shortages of construction materials and debris-clearing equipment continue to impede recovery efforts. Despite substantial donor pledges, much of the promised funding has yet to materialize. The Board of Peace official stressed that while current resources meet immediate needs, the establishment of multiple humanitarian zones would necessitate additional funding.
Hamas recently announced its intention to transfer administrative responsibilities to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technocratic body formed by the Board of Peace to manage day-to-day governance during a transitional period. However, the NCAG has been unable to enter Gaza, with Israeli authorities reportedly barring its access. For Israel, dismantling Hamas’s administrative structure does not fulfill its demand for the group’s disarmament.
The role of the Palestinian Authority (PA), based in Ramallah in the West Bank, remains uncertain. The PA is internationally recognized as the official Palestinian interlocutor, but coordination between the NCAG and the PA is expected to be limited. Observers caution that the result may be an administrative body responsible for public services but lacking control over security forces and border crossings, leaving it dependent on external support and potentially vulnerable to Hamas should it retain control over military capabilities.