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Rabat – Hamas announced on Monday that it has dissolved the governing body that has administered the Gaza Strip for nearly 20 years, paving the way for a technocratic committee to take over civilian administration.
The Palestinian movement has governed Gaza since 2007, when it took control of the territory after defeating its rival, Fatah.
A Hamas official told AFP that the movement decided to dissolve the Gaza government committee and appoint a nationally accepted figure to oversee its work until the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) formally assumes its responsibilities.
The group said the decision reflects its willingness to step away from day-to-day governance, a position it has repeatedly expressed since a ceasefire with Israel came into effect in October 2025.
Another Hamas official said Palestinian factions were informed of the decision during recent talks in Cairo. According to the official, the factions welcomed the move and described it as an important step toward allowing the NCAG to take over civilian administration.
The NCAG is headed by Palestinian official Ali Shaath and was established by the Board of Peace, a body created by US President Donald Trump after brokering the Gaza ceasefire. However, the committee has remained outside Gaza for months, reportedly because Israel has not allowed it to enter the territory.
The announcement comes as negotiations over the second phase of the ceasefire remain stalled. The first phase included the release of the remaining Israelis held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.
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The second phase was expected to include Hamas’ disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, no agreement has been reached, and Israeli forces have instead expanded their presence, now controlling nearly 70% of the territory.
Hamas has maintained that it will only consider handing over its weapons after a Palestinian administration is established in Gaza.
The future governance of Gaza remains one of the biggest obstacles in ongoing negotiations. Israel has ruled out allowing Hamas to return to power while also rejecting, for now, a direct takeover by the Palestinian Authority based in Ramallah.
The announcement comes after nearly three years of devastating genocidal war in Gaza. Israeli aggression has caused widespread destruction across the territory, leveling entire neighborhoods and severely damaging hospitals, schools, roads, and other civilian infrastructure.Â
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli occupation forces have killed over 58,000 Palestinians since the war began in October 2023, while the United Nations has repeatedly warned of a humanitarian crisis affecting the enclave’s more than two million residents.
