Who needs to rule Gaza? There’s only one viable option
As the war in Gaza drags on, with its devastating toll on both Israelis and Palestinians and severe erosion of Israel’s image, the international community is struggling to imagine a viable post-conflict reality in Gaza. Israel has not offered and does not have a clear solution. One thing is clear: Hamas cannot be allowed to rule Gaza again. It appears that there is a broad consensus on this. Hamas will likely resist and attempt to maintain its power even though spokesmen for Hamas have been saying they do not want to govern Gaza anymore while insisting on preserving their military capabilities.
But the question remains: if not Hamas, who will rule Gaza?
Israel can not and should not govern Gaza. Military control is unsustainable. A vacuum of governance, however, is even worse. It would invite extremism and chaos, and deepen humanitarian crises. It will further increase the pressure on the peace agreements Israel has with Egypt and Jordan.
The only viable path forward is a responsible, conditional transfer of governance to the Palestinian Authority (PA), but not as it exists today.
Despite its flaws, the PA remains the most realistic solution. The time to initiate this transition is now, through a phased process accompanied by internal reforms within the PA and international support. As a first and immediate step, the distribution of humanitarian aid, which has failed miserably in its current form and led to hunger and death, should be entrusted to the PA.
The idea of the PA returning to Gaza is not new, but it has gained urgency and legitimacy in light of Hamas’s atrocities on October 7 and the subsequent war. It was first suggested by President Joe Biden in November 2023 as part of a broader regional realignment. The Israeli government, while understandably skeptical of the PA’s current capacity, has offered no viable alternative. A foreign Arab force is unlikely to materialize or succeed, and the idea was rejected by the Arab League. Rule by local clans or NGOs lacks legitimacy and support. The only Palestinian governing body recognized internationally and by Israel under the Oslo Accords is the PA.
Critics argue that the PA is corrupt, ineffective, and lacks popular legitimacy. These are valid concerns, and they must be addressed; however, they do not fundamentally alter the situation. The PA can be reformed and rebuilt. Hamas cannot be, because it was founded and based on radical Islamic ideology bent on Israel’s destruction. None other than Iran wants Hamas to rule Gaza. The international community, led by the United States and moderate Arab states such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, must work on parallel tracks: assisting the PA in regaining security and administrative control in Gaza while insisting on significant governance reforms, transparency, and restoration of political legitimacy in Ramallah.
Deep reform must begin immediately, not only to rebuild the PA’s credibility among Palestinians but also to convince Israelis and the international community that this is a partner capable of responsible governance. These reforms should include:
- New leadership and measures to fight corruption
- Stopping incitement and committing to peace education, along with a shift in curriculum and public discourse toward coexistence and nonviolence
- Ending financial support of terrorists’ families, complete dismantling of terrorist infrastructure, including disarmament of militant factions, and continued security cooperation with Israel
- A specific commitment by the PA to dismantle Hamas terror infrastructure in Gaza and demilitarize the area
- Ending all attacks on Israel in international forums
These reforms must be followed by a transitional period under international supervision. During this time, the reformed Authority would administer Gaza’s civil needs, distribute aid, rebuild infrastructure, and prove its ability to govern responsibly.
The international community should signal its readiness to support such efforts, diplomatically and economically, as a path to broader stability. To facilitate the successful return of the PA as a governing body, Israel should withdraw from Gaza to the pre-October 7th, 2023 lines.
This process must begin now and not after the guns fall silent. Security coordination, administrative planning, and humanitarian preparations must be implemented in real-time to fill the vacuum that Hamas’s defeat will create, delaying until the “day after” means missing the window to shape it. Israel cannot and should not directly govern 2.3 million Gazans, nor can we afford a vacuum that could be exploited by armed groups or chaos.
The alternative
The Israeli government rejects empowering the PA because it refuses to negotiate the future of the West Bank and Gaza, but the alternative is worse: endless occupation or the eventual reemergence of Hamas under a different name. A reformed PA presence in Gaza, with support from Arab and Western countries, could begin to reunite the West Bank and Gaza under a single, pragmatic leadership — a necessary precondition for any future political resolution.
What is needed now is strategic clarity and the courage to act. The PA’s return to Gaza is not a concession; it is a necessary investment in Israel’s long-term security, regional stability, and the eventual possibility of peace. The alternative is continued bloodshed and despair.
Gaza must not be left in its ruins. It must be rebuilt not just physically, but politically. And that rebuilding must begin now, by giving the PA the responsibility. The reformed Palestinian Authority must rise to this challenge. Israel and the international community must provide both incentives and oversight to ensure success.