US Vice President J.D. Vance recently addressed the uncertain future of Gaza’s governance, stating that he does not know who will ultimately lead the enclave. During his visit to an Israel-based coordination center, he emphasized the importance of security and rebuilding as the top priorities for the region. Vance was accompanied by President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as they evaluated the progress of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. He praised the ceasefire efforts as being better than expected and expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of a lasting resolution to the two-year conflict. However, he admitted that the political structure of Gaza remains unclear, stating that the immediate focus should be on ensuring stability and security for both Palestinians and Israelis before addressing governance issues.
Recent violence, including a Palestinian attack that led to the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and subsequent Israeli airstrikes, has reignited tensions. Despite this, both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire, which was brokered in early October as part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan. Trump has also vowed to use heavy force against Hamas if the group continues to act against the terms of the agreement, stating that Hamas would be ‘eradicated’ if it violated the ceasefire. Under the plan, Hamas is expected to disarm and relinquish control of the enclave, but the group is currently acting as a security force in the region. The situation remains fragile as Hamas, which won elections in Gaza in 2006, continues to play a contentious role in the political landscape, clashing with the Palestinian Authority (PA) that governs parts of the occupied West Bank. No elections have been held in the Palestinian territories since then, leaving the political future in limbo.