Drone Strike Kills Three Palestinians in Gaza as Hamas Prepares for Governance Transition

An Israeli drone strike in Gaza has killed three individuals as Hamas prepares to dissolve its government and transfer authority to a new committee. This transition is part of a US-brokered peace initiative aimed at stabilising the region.

On Monday, an Israeli drone strike resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians who had crossed the ceasefire line near the Morag corridor in central Gaza, according to hospital officials. The Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident. This development occurs as Gaza anticipates an announcement regarding a "Board of Peace" to oversee governance in the region.

Hamas has stated it will dissolve its current government once this new committee assumes control, as outlined in a US-brokered peace plan. The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 440 fatalities since Israel and Hamas agreed last October to halt their two-year conflict. Both sides have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, which is still in its early stages.

Ceasefire Developments and Governance Plans

The Israeli military maintains control over a buffer zone covering more than half of Gaza, while Hamas governs the remaining area. During the war, Israel supported anti-Hamas factions, including a group that claimed responsibility for killing a senior Hamas police officer in Khan Younis on Monday. Lt Col Mahmoud al-Astal was shot dead in the Muwasi area, as confirmed by the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem urged for the swift establishment of a Palestinian technocratic committee to govern Gaza. However, neither Hamas nor the rival Palestinian Authority has announced who will be on this committee, and it remains uncertain if they will receive approval from Israel and the US.

International Involvement and Peace Efforts

Officials indicate that Trump will soon announce appointments to the Board of Peace. Under Trump's plan, this board would oversee the new Palestinian government, disarm Hamas, deploy an international security force, facilitate further Israeli troop withdrawals, and support reconstruction efforts. Progress on these initiatives has been limited so far.

Turkish officials reported that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participated in a video conference with US and other officials on Monday to discuss preparations for the second stage of the ceasefire agreement. This meeting followed one held in Miami at December's end and included representatives from Egypt and Qatar.

Protests and Prisoner Issues

In Gaza City on Monday, dozens of Palestinians, including medical workers, protested to demand the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The protest was organised by the Palestinian Prisoners Committee outside the International Committee of the Red Cross building.

Meanwhile, groups advocating for Palestinian prisoners reported that Israeli authorities confirmed the death of a detainee from Gaza. The Prisoners Affairs Commission and Palestinian Prisoner Society stated that Hamza Abdullah Abdelhadi Adwan died in prison on September 9. His family received this information from the Israeli military.

Adwan, aged 67 and a father of nine with severe health issues, was detained at a checkpoint on November 12, 2024. Two of his children were killed during the Gaza war. Since the conflict began, 87 Palestinian detainees have died in Israeli prisons — including 51 from Gaza — according to the Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Commission.

The commission also reported that over 100 detainees have died due to torture, starvation, medical neglect, and abuse. These deaths highlight ongoing concerns about prisoner treatment amid broader regional tensions.

With inputs from PTI