Palestinian factions have voiced their strong opposition to any form of foreign guardianship, military presence, or international bases within the Gaza Strip. In a statement released Sunday evening, the factions emphasized that such interventions would constitute a direct infringement upon Palestinian national sovereignty.
The factions criticized a proposed U.S. resolution slated for a vote in the United Nations Security Council on Monday, warning that it poses a significant threat. They contend that the resolution paves the way for external dominance over Palestinian national decision-making.
“This resolution effectively transfers the administration and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip to a supranational entity,” the statement read, “thereby stripping Palestinians of their right to manage their own affairs.” The factions further asserted that the proposal to establish an international force in the Strip seeks to impose an international trusteeship over Gaza and promote a biased perspective.
The Palestinian factions stressed that any humanitarian efforts should be channeled through competent Palestinian institutions under the supervision of the United Nations. They also firmly rejected any clauses related to the disarmament of Gaza or the infringement upon the Palestinian people’s right to resist. They maintain that discussions regarding weapons should remain a national matter linked to a political process that guarantees an end to the occupation.
Simultaneously, the factions called for international mechanisms to hold Israel accountable for its violations and its use of starvation tactics against the population through its control of border crossings.
Earlier on Sunday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated that the amendments to the proposed U.S. resolution for the Security Council would not serve to stabilize the situation in the Gaza Strip. He cautioned that the project would replace the Israeli occupation with a different form of guardianship.
Qassem affirmed that the proposed amendments would grant non-Palestinian entities control over the internal Palestinian situation regarding governance and security, as well as interference in internal affairs without awaiting self-determined Palestinian arrangements. Hamas believes the alternative is a UN resolution that strengthens the ceasefire and establishes an international peacekeeping force in Gaza.
He emphasized that the resolution should clearly define the mission of this force as being to separate the occupying army from the besieged civilians in Gaza and maintain the ceasefire.
