By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Gaza factions press Ali Shath to enter Strip, but he deflects responsibility, directing them instead to mediator Mladenov.

Key Takeaways

• Gaza factions warn delay in the committee’s return is “deepening suffering” and allowing Israel to entrench crises.
• Ali Shath says the committee is “professional” and not responsible for political conditions blocking its entry.
• Sources say humanitarian efforts are tied to disarmament demands outside the original ceasefire framework.

Direct Pressure

Palestinian national and Islamic forces in Gaza have sharply escalated pressure on Ali Shath, demanding that he and his committee enter the Strip and begin carrying out their mandate.

According to sources cited by Quds News Network, the Follow-Up Committee of the National and Islamic Forces sent a direct message urging Shath and his team to take a position that would “impose their arrival in the Gaza Strip” as soon as possible.

The factions said they are fully prepared, in coordination with Gaza’s governmental emergency structures, to provide “all means necessary” to transfer administration of the Strip to the committee “without any obstacles.”

The committee was formed nearly 100 days ago as part of the ceasefire framework, with a mandate focused on managing humanitarian and administrative affairs during a transitional phase.

‘Deepens People’s Suffering’

In a strongly worded message, the factions warned that the committee’s delay in entering Gaza “deepens people’s suffering and allows the occupation to entrench crises.”

They described the delay as “unjustified and incomprehensible,” saying it has triggered “widespread dissatisfaction” among residents awaiting tangible steps to alleviate worsening conditions.

According to the sources, the factions argued that linking the committee’s return and the reopening of crossings to new conditions—absent from the original ceasefire agreement—has effectively turned the committee into a “hostage” to external actors.

They added that these justifications for delay are “in harmony with the occupation,” accusing Israel of attempting to impose new conditions not included in the original ceasefire formula.

Shath Deflects Responsibility

Despite the mounting pressure, Shath reportedly distanced himself from the issue.

“We are a professional committee,” he said, QNN reported, “and have nothing to do with the political issues being discussed between the Palestinian factions and the High Representative Mladenov.”

The response was widely seen by sources as dismissive, redirecting responsibility to Nikolay Mladenov rather than addressing the committee’s continued absence from Gaza.

Sources said Mladenov had presented resistance factions with a five-stage plan linking each humanitarian phase to what he described as “collecting weapons,” effectively tying relief and administrative steps to the disarmament of Palestinian factions.

They stressed that this contradicts the original ceasefire agreement, which limited the committee’s role to humanitarian and administrative functions.

According to the sources, Shath and the committee have not publicly challenged this shift, nor rejected linking their mandate to the weapons file.

The factions also outlined what they described as ongoing Israeli violations, including “continued field escalation,” “systematic killing and assassination operations,” and attacks on shelters and police facilities.

They pointed to restrictions on trade, pressure on vital sectors—particularly healthcare—expansion of buffer zones, and refusal to withdraw from areas occupied during recent operations.

The factions further warned of Israeli support for armed groups operating outside official structures, contributing to internal instability.

‘Gaza Cannot Be Administered Remotely’

Sources said the factions emphasized that Gaza “cannot be administered remotely,” especially after enduring years of genocide and blockade.

They warned against prioritizing security arrangements while urgent sectors such as health, relief, infrastructure, and education remain in crisis.

The factions said they had urged the committee to press mediators to secure its immediate return, rather than remain outside Gaza under the pretext of logistical constraints.

Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The pressure comes as humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain severe despite months of ceasefire.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, aid delivery continues to face major constraints due to insecurity, restricted access, fuel shortages, and supply chain disruptions, with crossings operating below needed capacity.

Food insecurity remains critical. The World Food Programme has warned that Gaza still faces “catastrophic conditions,” with more than 100,000 children and tens of thousands of women at risk of acute malnutrition.

Health services are also under extreme strain. According to the World Health Organization and Palestinian data cited by WAFA, 94 percent of Gaza’s hospitals have been damaged or destroyed, while the overall number of Palestinians wounded since October 7, 2023, has climbed to 172,213.

Meanwhile, the death toll continues to rise. WAFA reported on April 14 that 72,336 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the genocide, while 757 have been killed and 2,111 wounded since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, 2025; the same report said 760 bodies had also been recovered.

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(Quds News, WAFA, PC)