Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator
Just two days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, quiet but significant steps toward rebuilding parts of the Gaza Strip began—without any formal public announcement, contractual framework, or reference to disarmament. These developments have raised serious political and security questions inside Israel and across the region.
According to an article by Israeli journalist Anna Barsky published in Maariv, the Qatar Fund for Development announced the resumption of operations at the Hamad Rehabilitation and Prosthetics Hospital in northern Gaza, while simultaneously opening a new branch in the southern part of the Strip. The move has triggered intense debate within Israel over what is increasingly perceived as an undeclared transition toward a second phase in Gaza’s post-war reality.
The hospital, named after the former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, resumed operations following what Qatari officials described as a “forced suspension” due to Israeli military operations in September 2025. According to official statements, the facility has restarted services for war victims and people with disabilities, including the reactivation of its CT scan unit—the only such device operating in northern Gaza.
The hospital is expected to operate three main departments: prosthetics, hearing and balance, and physical rehabilitation, alongside outpatient services and inpatient rehabilitation for war victims, stroke patients, and individuals with neurological and muscular disorders.
At the same time, a new branch was inaugurated in southern Gaza, officially framed as a response to the “severe deterioration of the healthcare system” and growing humanitarian needs. Since its opening in April 2019 through October 2025, the hospital has reportedly treated around 52,000 patients, with nearly 100 individuals receiving prosthetic limbs since March alone.
Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Chairman of the Hospital’s Board and CEO of the Qatar Fund for Development, stated that operations resumed “despite the enormous challenges created by the war,” emphasizing that the institution’s humanitarian mission outweighs all obstacles. He added that Qatar remains committed to mobilizing all available resources to ensure high-quality healthcare for Gaza’s population.
However, Israeli officials view the timing with suspicion. According to Israeli sources cited by Maariv, the move is widely perceived in political circles as an implicit “green light” following Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump.
“This is being framed as purely humanitarian, which makes it difficult to oppose,” said an Israeli government source. “But we must remember that Hamas previously exploited the Qatari hospital infrastructure for operational purposes. Tunnels were dug nearby, and the facility itself was used as a logistical base.”
The source added that the issue extends beyond a single hospital, warning of a broader reconstruction process being implemented without any discussion of disarmament, the return of Israeli captives—including the late Ran Gvili—or formal political agreements. “This is reconstruction in practice, without conditions,” the source said.
Aid, Commerce, and Contradictions
A separate investigation by The Guardian revealed that Israel has quietly allowed commercial traders to bring goods into Gaza that are otherwise prohibited for humanitarian organizations. These include items classified as “dual-use,” such as generators and metal platforms, which Israel claims could be repurposed for military use.
While humanitarian agencies remain blocked from importing such materials, commercial traders have been allowed to sell them openly in Gaza markets after passing through the same Israeli checkpoints.
A diplomatic source told The Guardian that it was “inconceivable” Israeli authorities were unaware of these shipments, describing the situation as deeply contradictory. The policy has limited the capacity of humanitarian organizations while benefiting traders with access permits.
The issue was reportedly discussed with the commander of a newly established U.S. military base in southern Israel. The base coordinates civil-military operations related to the ceasefire brokered by President Trump and planning for Gaza’s future. However, no clear U.S. position has been publicly articulated.
Tania Hary, Executive Director of the Israeli human rights group Gisha, said Israel has a long record of using access to Gaza as a political tool.
Mounting Political Tensions Inside Israel
The question of Gaza’s future has exposed deep divisions within Israel’s political and security establishment. According to Yedioth Ahronoth, a sharp disagreement has emerged within the Israeli security cabinet.
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly warned Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel must decide who will govern Gaza if the U.S.-backed international stabilization force fails to dismantle Hamas. Zamir cautioned that without a clear political strategy, Hamas could reconstitute itself, as it has done following previous conflicts.
While the Israeli military remains prepared for renewed operations, Zamir reportedly demanded clarity on who would assume control after any military campaign. He warned that without such clarity, another war would merely reset the cycle of violence.
Though previously opposed to military governance, Zamir acknowledged it as one possible scenario if international plans fail. Netanyahu, however, reportedly avoided giving a definitive answer, despite skepticism within the military regarding the effectiveness of the proposed international force.
Israeli intelligence agencies have also warned that Hamas is actively rebuilding its military and organizational capabilities, even as diplomatic discussions continue.
Rafah Crossing and U.S. Pressure
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan reported that Israel is preparing to reopen the Rafah crossing in the coming days following U.S. pressure. The move reportedly followed Netanyahu’s meeting with President Trump in Mar-a-Lago.
According to Israeli officials, the reopening would mark the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire plan, which includes disarming Hamas, forming a technocratic governing body for Gaza, deploying a stabilization force, and establishing a “Peace Council” under U.S. supervision.
The Rafah crossing is a critical lifeline for Gaza, and its reopening is seen as a key step in easing the humanitarian crisis. International organizations have repeatedly urged Israel to allow aid through, particularly amid worsening conditions.
Restrictions on NGOs and International Backlash
Israel has announced plans to revoke the registration of 37 international NGOs operating in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including ActionAid, the International Rescue Committee, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The Israeli government claims these organizations failed to meet new registration requirements, including providing full personal data on staff members. NGOs argue this would endanger their workers, especially after hundreds of humanitarian staff were killed over the past two years.
Ten countries—including the UK, France, Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, and others—issued a joint statement condemning the move, warning it would severely undermine humanitarian access.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the decision as “arbitrary” and “outrageous,” stating it would worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs defended the move, claiming some organizations had ties to militant groups—allegations that groups such as Doctors Without Borders strongly rejected, calling them baseless and dangerous.
A Fragile Humanitarian Reality
The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Civil defense teams reported the deaths of a mother and her child in a tent fire in Gaza City, while another child died from extreme cold in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Heavy rains have flooded hundreds of makeshift shelters.
Israeli artillery fire and tank movements were reported in eastern Khan Younis and near the Bureij refugee camp, further worsening conditions for civilians.
A Precarious Future
As reconstruction quietly advances, political disputes deepen, and military options remain on the table, Gaza stands at a critical crossroads. The absence of a unified political vision—locally, regionally, and internationally—raises profound questions about whether rebuilding efforts can bring stability, or whether they merely lay the groundwork for another cycle of conflict.
With humanitarian needs escalating and geopolitical maneuvering intensifying, the coming weeks may determine whether Gaza moves toward recovery—or deeper uncertainty.
Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist.