Israel Joins 'Peace Council' in Gaza, Hamas Calls Move 'Farce of the Century'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially announced Tel Aviv's joining of what is known as the 'Peace Council' dedicated to the Gaza Strip, an entity established and chaired by US President Donald Trump. This step comes amidst international legal pursuits faced by Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court, adding further controversy to the legitimacy of his presence in a system aimed at managing the affairs of the Strip.

For its part, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) launched a sharp attack on this announcement, describing Netanyahu's joining of the council as the 'farce of the century' and a perpetuation of occupation policies with new faces. The movement's leader, Osama Hamdan, affirmed that the Palestinian people will not accept any form of external guardianship, stressing the rejection of replacing occupation forces with international forces under any name whatsoever.

On the international front, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto affirmed his intention to attend the inaugural meeting of the council leaders scheduled to be held in the United States on February 19. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry clarified that this participation aims to use the platform to defend legitimate Palestinian rights and push for the reconstruction of the devastated Strip, while adhering to the necessity of achieving lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

Donald Trump launched the 'Peace Council' in mid-January, with the aim of overseeing the interim governance phase in the Gaza Strip and later expanding its tasks to include other international disputes. However, the council faces widespread human rights criticism, as experts believe that its structure reproduces colonial models, especially in the absence of any real Palestinian representation within its decision-making centers.

A state of caution and anticipation prevails in global diplomatic circles regarding this American initiative, as observers fear that this council could undermine the role of the United Nations and its agencies operating in the occupied territories. While some regional parties rushed to engage in the council, Western capitals allied with Washington expressed clear reservations and have refused to join it so far.

The biggest challenge facing this council remains its ability to impose a new political reality in Gaza amidst widespread popular and factional rejection of any external interventions that go beyond the Palestinian national will. Attention is currently focused on the anticipated Washington meeting, which will determine the features of the council's next move and its ability to overcome the legal and political obstacles surrounding its establishment.

The Palestinian people reject any external guardianship, and international forces replacing the occupation army within the Gaza Strip cannot be accepted.