Al-Monitor newspaper said that any options for the “next day” in Gaza cannot completely ignore the presence of Hamas, at least as a very popular Palestinian faction.

The American newspaper said in a report that the success of any deal to resolve the crisis based on the Palestinian Authority assuming the reins of government in Gaza requires great cooperation and coordination between the two largest factions, namely the Fatah and Hamas movements, as both factions are in dire need of the other to get out of the bottleneck and the current impasse.

In light of the fact that the war in Gaza is nearing its end, due to the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the main areas in the Gaza Strip, and the progress of ceasefire talks, and in light of the fact that the next stage in Gaza must be permanent and not temporary to ensure that security is achieved and that the conflict does not ignite again, and with the insistence of Jordan and Egypt the two neighboring countries stressed the need to respect Palestinian rights, as the only viable solution must be the Palestinian solution, according to the newspaper.

It added that the current situation is complicated because unless Hamas is completely eliminated, which everyone, including the Americans, knows will not happen, any solution will need approval If not the direct participation of Hamas.

What makes the situation more complicated, according to the newspaper, is the popularity of Hamas, which has risen since last October 7, as an opinion poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, in January 2024, showed that 42% of Palestinians in Gaza said they support Hamas, compared to 38% in September 2023, while support for the movement in the West Bank reached 44%; compared to only 12% in September 2023.

The report suggested that the two Palestinian factions would become closer politically to try to find a common working platform that would contribute to improving the image of the Palestinian National Authority and support its acceptance among the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

It also requires the Palestinian National Authority to make radical changes in the chain of command, accompanied by administrative and organizational reforms that address corruption and achieve agility in the performance of any new legitimate elected government, according to Al-Monitor.

While the presence of Hamas would be completely rejected, Israeli first and internationally in general, it is believed that Hamas will not demand a clear political and administrative presence, and will prefer to play a role in the shadows, ensuring its moral participation and not disrupting any solutions, according to the newspaper.