Who is Samir Halila: the businessman in the Arab League's plan, governor of Gaza?

Palestinian businessman Samir Halilah is the name being floated for the future of Gaza . In recent months, the Israeli news site Ynet reports, behind-the-scenes work has been underway to appoint a "governor " for the Strip, where the humanitarian situation has worsened daily since the start of Israeli military operations against Hamas and other groups following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. According to Halilah himself, interviewed by the Palestinian news agency Maan, which is close to the Ramallah authorities, Hamas has also given his approval.

Ynet cites sources involved and " documents submitted to the Department of Justice" according to which this is an attempt to bring someone to the Strip—which fell into Hamas hands in 2007—operating under the auspices of the Arab League, who would be accepted by both Israel and the US and allow for a postwar transition. In the interview with Maan, Halilah stated that the proposal to appoint him governor, "discussed within the Palestinian leadership, has been on the table for a year and a half," and, more importantly, " has been accepted by Hamas." The agency reports that, in addition to news of the proposed gubernatorial candidate, it also received "details of an agreement being finalized, which includes the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip ."

Maan claims that the agreement also provides for " the entry of Arab forces under American supervision and the appointment of a Palestinian governor to manage civil affairs, ensure security, and oversee the reconstruction process." This would be Halilah. "The proposal ," he himself told the agency, " envisages that the administration of Gaza be under the supervision of the Arab League Committee, which has six members and is composed of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian National Authority, and Qatar, to manage civil affairs in Gaza and ensure its security." Halilah is a Palestinian businessman who served as Secretary General of the third Palestinian National Authority government (2005-2006) under Ahmed Qurei, who died last year. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestine Securities Exchange until last March.

People continue to die in Gaza

Gaza's Ministry of Health has recorded "five deaths due to famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, including two children." This brings the total number of hunger-related deaths recorded since October 7, 2023, to 227, including 103 children. The Nasser Medical Complex also confirmed the death of Jamal Fadi al-Najjar, a 6-year-old boy who died of a hunger-related illness in the town of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera reports. Acute malnutrition in the Gaza Strip is increasing "skyrocketingly, with more than 300,000 children at serious risk," says the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). " The data comes after a recent warning from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), according to which only 1.5% of the enclave's arable land remains accessible and intact, signaling a near-total collapse of local food production," reads a statement published on the UN website. But some in Israel are rebelling.

The strike in Israel

The Israeli opposition is supporting the request of the hostages' families to strike next Sunday in solidarity with those still held by Hamas in Gaza. This was stated by Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid. " I'm striking on Sunday," Lapid declared on his X account, specifying that he was also addressing "those who support the government" of Benjamin Netanyahu. "This is not a matter of quarrels or politics. Do it in solidarity " with the October 7 hostages, Lapid said. " The families asked for it, and that is reason enough," he added. On August 10, around twenty relatives of the hostages called for a general strike next Sunday, and on Monday the Hostage Families Forum , the main organization representing the prisoners' relatives, called in a statement for " putting the country on hold ." So far, the request has not convinced Israel's main trade union, the Histadrut. The union decided "not to shut down the economy at this stage," but would support "worker solidarity demonstrations" that day, according to the Forum.

FROM

Umberto De Giovannangeli