It is with pleasure that we share with you Stratbase ADR Institute’s Occasional Paper for November 2023 entitled, “Hamas, Post-Conflict Options, and the Role of Local Leadership”, authored by Mr. Reem Cohen, affiliated with the Embassy of Israel, Manila.

In light of the recent Hamas attack on Israel, this paper advances the preferred option of establishing an impartial administration of technocrats in Gaza with the support and involvement of pragmatic Arab states and the international community, and in coordination with the Palestinian authority.

Anchored on the aim of establishing stability after the war, the paper also presents the following scenarios after the Israel-Hamas conflict: (1) complete disengagement from the Strip and closing off to Israel; (2) taking control of the Strip, a prolonged stay and the establishment of the Palestinian authority; (3) establishing a government of technocrats in Gaza; (4) the Palestinian Authority to allow a body/administration of technocrats under its umbrella; (5) preserving the existing framework but without practical control by the Palestinian Authority.

The flow of discussion is organized under the following sections: Introduction, Ideology, Policy, and Hamas Funding, Origins and Historical background of conflict with Hamas, Israel’s military operations against the Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip, Sudden Attack on Israel (2023), the 2023 Israel-Hamas War, Scenarios – after Hamas, and the Move Toward Stability.