US reportedly pressing Israel to allow Palestinian technocrats’ committee to enter Gaza

The Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip on 11 August 2025

Jack Khoury reports in Haaretz on 21 January 2026:

The United States is pressing Israel to allow members of the Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with governing the Gaza Strip to enter the territory via the Rafah crossing, Saudi-owned broadcaster Asharq News reported Wednesday, citing sources.

On Tuesday, Haaretz cited Palestinian sources as saying Israel is blocking the entry of the officials, who had planned to enter Gaza this week and begin their work.

Egypt told committee members that the United States is pressing Israel to expedite the reopening of the Rafah crossing in both directions, sources told Asharq News. An announcement is expected in the coming days, the sources said.The U.S. informed Dr. Ali Shaath, the committees chairman, that several countries have committed to providing generous financial support to the panel, the sources said.

According to Asharq News, the committee’s two-year operating budget is expected to be announced soon. The funds are intended for the rehabilitation of public services, housing, infrastructure reconstruction and government expenditures, including salary payments.

Ali Shaath (C), head of the new Palestinian technocratic committee for administering the Gaza Strip, poses with its members during the inaugural meeting of the Gaza technocratic committee, in Cairo on 18 January 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Hamas must disarm, a provision of his 20-point plan. “They’ve gotta do it. We’re going to know over the next two to three days, certainly weeks, if they’re going to do it,” he said. “If they don’t do it, they’ll be blown away very quickly.”

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said Hamas had “agreed to give up their weapons,” adding that “they were born with a rifle in their hand, so it’s not an easy thing for them to do.”

The Israeli security establishment has completed preparations for a possible reopening of the Rafah Crossing in recent weeks, allowing the entry and exit of Gaza residents.

Since the crossing was closed during the war, Gaza residents who have left the enclave have been barred from returning, even if they left with Israeli approval. Israel will now allow residents who leave to return via Rafah, subject to security screening and oversight.

The crossing would reopen under tight supervision, Israeli security officials stressed. European forces expected to play a central role in monitoring the crossing are already in Israel and preparing for deployment.

According to Trump’s cease-fire plan, the Rafah crossing would be “subject to the same mechanism implemented under 19 January 2025 agreement,” the last opening of the crossing.  Under the agreement, the Palestinian side of the crossing would be operated by the Palestinian Authority (PA), with assistance from a European Union force.

During the previous cease-fire, Palestinian personnel staffing the crossing did not wear PA insignia. According to a European source, this was due to Israeli sensitivity regarding the authority’s presence in Gaza.

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