Hamas Dissolves Gaza Governing Body, Hands Power to Technocratic Committee
Hamas has announced the dissolution of its government in the Gaza Strip, a step that clears the way for a Palestinian technocratic committee to take over civilian administration of the territory. The move, announced on Monday, marks a significant shift after nearly two decades of Hamas rule in Gaza.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) is set to assume administrative responsibilities. The committee was established under the framework of the US-brokered ceasefire between Hamas and Israel that took effect in October 2025. It has been operating from Cairo rather than inside Gaza, with Hamas accusing Israel of blocking its access.
According to a statement read outside a hospital in central Gaza, Mohammed al-Farra, head of the government’s emergency committee, submitted his official resignation and announced the dissolution of the Government Emergency Committee. Ismail al-Thawabta, head of Hamas’ government media office, said that only “technical and professional staff” would remain in their positions to run day-to-day affairs and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of public services.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem called the move “a positive step forward on the path to implement the ceasefire deal” and said the group affirms its readiness to hand over governmental responsibilities to the NCAG. A Hamas official told AFP that other Palestinian factions had been informed of the decision at a recent meeting in Cairo and welcomed it as a serious step.
Ceasefire Stalled, Violence Continues
The announcement comes as negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the next phases of the ceasefire have stalled, with each side accusing the other of breaching the fragile deal. More than a thousand people have been killed in Gaza since the truce came into force in October, according to reports. At least 1,005 people have been killed in Gaza since the US-brokered ceasefire was agreed, and at least 73,098 people have been killed in total since the war began in October 2023.
Israel continues to control about 70 percent of the besieged territory, crowding Palestinians into smaller areas. Israeli forces have also seized more territory in recent months.
Disarmament Remains Key Sticking Point
The dissolution announcement did not include a commitment by Hamas to disarm, which remains the central demand from Israel and a core element of the US-backed peace plan. Israel has insisted that Hamas can have no governing or military role in post-war Gaza. Hamas has refused to lay down its weapons, which Israel says is a precondition for withdrawing from the territory.
An Israeli official dismissed the announcement as irrelevant, saying that “all of the Hamas members stay in their positions” and calling it “a spin that has no significance.” The Board of Peace, the entity led by US President Donald Trump with the mandate of governing and rebuilding Gaza, said it was “guided by actions, not promises” and stressed that the technocratic committee must control all weapons in Gaza, as laid out in the ceasefire agreement.
The NCAG is headed by Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaath and is intended to oversee civilian affairs in Gaza. The committee is currently based outside Gaza and has said it is prepared to begin operating once conditions allow.
The latest move by Hamas represents a significant political shift, but the unresolved question of disarmament and the continued Israeli military presence mean that the future of Gaza remains uncertain. The international community’s attention on Gaza has faded amid other conflicts in the region, but the situation on the ground remains dire for the Palestinian population.