Economist: Gaza Stuck Between Rubble and Political Stagnation Serving Conflict Parties

The "Economist" magazine painted a bleak picture of the current situation in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that the absence of political progress is exacerbating the suffering of the population to an unprecedented degree. The report indicated that the current state of paralysis seems to suit all parties involved, despite its catastrophic impact on civilians.

Sources stated that rats have become the only creatures moving freely amidst piles of waste and worn-out tents housing hundreds of thousands. In contrast, Israeli authorities prevent the entry of equipment necessary to repair sewage and water networks available in areas they control.

Israel justifies its actions by claiming that materials needed for repairs are "dual-use" items that could be exploited for military purposes, leading to a complete halt in essential services. The Israeli ban included mobile homes, tents, and even rat poison, at a time when the Strip lives without electricity or formal education.

Despite the declaration of a ceasefire as part of US President Donald Trump's plan, Israeli raids have not completely ceased. Medical sources reported the martyrdom of more than 750 people since the truce was announced about seven months ago, emptying the agreement of its humanitarian content.

Trump's 20-point plan had promised immediate relief, including the entry of 600 aid trucks daily and the full opening of crossings. The plan also stipulated the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces with the arrival of international forces and a Palestinian technocratic committee taking over the administration of the Strip's affairs.

The magazine comments that these provisions remained mere aspirations on paper, while current leaders prefer a state of anticipation that serves their political interests. It seems that the Israeli side is counting on the deterioration of conditions to push residents towards voluntary departure from the devastated Strip.

In contrast, Hamas clings to what remains of its authority in areas whose size is constantly shrinking due to military operations. The movement is raising fuel and basic commodity prices to generate revenue that enables it to pay its employees' salaries amidst resource scarcity.

As for the West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appears apprehensive about the disintegration of his authority and shows no real desire to engage in Gaza's administration. This coincides with the American administration's preoccupation with other regional issues, reducing pressure on Israel to fulfill its commitments.

The report revealed a strange situation for members of the "National Committee for the Administration of Gaza" who reside in luxury hotels in Cairo without performing any actual duties. These engineers and academics are under strict supervision from Nikolay Mladenov, the High Representative for the Peace Council, who controls their movements.

To date, Israel has only approved a thousand personnel out of 25,000 who are supposed to form the new Palestinian civil police force. The issue of disarming factions remains the major obstacle preventing any progress in the reconstruction process or Israeli withdrawal.

International parties demand that Hamas transform into a civilian political party and hand over its weapons caches and tunnel maps to the new administrative committee. However, the movement sets counter-conditions, including a complete Israeli withdrawal and the integration of its civilian employees into the Strip's new administrative structure.

Estimates indicate that the Al-Qassam Brigades still retain about 20,000 active fighters, which strengthens the movement's position in refusing to surrender weapons. The movement's leaders fear being liquidated by their local adversaries if they abandon their military arsenal.

Internally, Hamas continues to follow the hardline approach established by its late leader Yahya Sinwar, with new appointments based on the principle of continuity rather than reform. Recent municipal elections in Deir al-Balah showed the continued control of figures loyal to the movement despite low turnout.

The report concluded that lessons learned from regional wars confirm that whoever controls the land refuses to relinquish it, no matter the human cost. Consequently, Gaza's residents remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and destruction, while only rats continue to move freely.

Nothing moves freely in Gaza except the rats that multiply amidst piles of garbage and rubble.