Hamas has dissolved the governing body that has administered the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades, paving the way for a technocratic committee to assume responsibility for the territory’s civilian affairs.
The move marks a major political shift for the Palestinian Islamist group, which has governed Gaza since seizing control from rival faction Fatah in 2007 after winning the 2006 legislative elections.
Since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in October 2025, the group has repeatedly indicated its willingness to relinquish day-to-day governance, although the contentious issue of its disarmament remains unresolved.
“The head of the government’s emergency committee, Mohammed al-Farra, has officially submitted his resignation,” Ismail al-Thawabta, head of Hamas’ Government Media Office, told AFP.
“He has also decided to dissolve the committee to facilitate the administrative and governmental transition to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).”
The NCAG was established by the Board of Peace, created by US President Donald Trump following the ceasefire agreement brokered between Hamas and Israel in October 2025.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem described the decision as a step aimed at removing what the group considers Israeli justifications for continuing military operations in Gaza.
“Hamas has taken a new step in that it will no longer be in charge of the Gaza Strip, in order to remove any pretexts for the occupation, which continues its aggression and war of extermination,” Qassem said.
“We hope for the swift entry of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, and Hamas affirms its readiness to hand over governmental responsibilities to the committee to ensure its success.”
A Hamas official said the decision had already been communicated to other Palestinian factions during recent talks in Cairo.
According to the official, the factions welcomed the move, describing it as a serious step toward enabling the technocratic committee to take over governance in Gaza.
The dissolution clears the way for the NCAG, headed by Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaath, to assume administrative control of the enclave.
However, the committee has remained outside Gaza for months amid reported Israeli objections to its deployment into the territory.
Hamas and other Palestinian factions have held several rounds of negotiations in Cairo with international mediators in an effort to bridge differences over the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The first phase saw the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.
Negotiations on the second phase—which includes Hamas’ disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza—have stalled for months.
Instead, Israeli forces have expanded their military presence and now control nearly 70 per cent of the territory.
Hamas has maintained that it will only consider relinquishing part of its arsenal after a recognised Palestinian administration is established in Gaza.
The future governance of the war-ravaged enclave remains one of the biggest obstacles to implementing the next phase of the ceasefire.
While Israel insists Hamas cannot return to power, it has also rejected, for now, the prospect of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority taking over the territory directly.
