Hamas disbands administrative council in Gaza Strip

In a significant development, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced the dissolution of its governing body in the Gaza Strip on Monday, a move that has been in the making for nearly two decades, paving the way for a technocratic committee to take over and implement civilian rule.

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This marked a substantial shift in Hamas' political stance, as the group has been in control of Gaza since its fighters seized power from rival Palestinian movement Fatah in 2007, following a legislative election victory the previous year.

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Since the ceasefire took effect in Gaza last October between Hamas and Israel, the group has consistently expressed its willingness to step aside from day-to-day governance, but the contentious issue of disarmament remains unresolved.

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According to Ismail al-Thawabta, head of Hamas' government media office, Mohammed al-Farra, the head of the government's emergency committee, has officially submitted his resignation and dissolved the committee to facilitate a smooth transition to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).

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The NCAG was established by the Board of Peace, which was set up by US President Donald Trump when he brokered the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel in October 2025.

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Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem stated that the group's decision to relinquish control of the Gaza Strip aims to remove any pretexts for occupation and aggression, and expressed hope for the swift entry of the NCAG, affirming Hamas' readiness to hand over governmental responsibilities to ensure the committee's success.

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A Hamas official revealed that the group had informed other Palestinian factions about its decision at a recent meeting in Cairo, which was reportedly welcomed by the factions as a serious step towards enabling the NCAG to assume its governing role.

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The dissolution of the Hamas governing body has cleared the way for the NCAG, headed by Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaath, to take on administrative responsibilities in the territory.

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However, the NCAG has remained based outside Gaza for months, reportedly due to Israeli objections to its entry into the war-devastated territory.

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Hamas and other Palestinian factions have engaged in several rounds of talks in Cairo with mediators to narrow differences, particularly over the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which has been stalled for months.

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The first phase of the ceasefire involved the release of the last Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel, but the transition to the second phase, involving Hamas' disarmament and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, has been delayed.

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Israeli forces have actually expanded their presence in the territory in recent months, taking control of nearly 70 percent of the area.

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Hamas is demanding the establishment of a Palestinian administration before considering the handover of any part of its arsenal, which remains a major sticking point in negotiations on implementing phase two of the ceasefire.

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Israel rejects any return of Hamas to power and also rejects a direct takeover by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority at this stage, leaving the question of Gaza's post-war governance unresolved.