HAMAS HAS ANNOUNCED it is dissolving its government in the Gaza Strip, potentially paving the way for a technocratic administration to take over the devastated Palestinian territory.

The move represents a major shift in Palestinian politics, after nearly 20 years of Hamas rule in Gaza. 

“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 the AFP news agency.

“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 created by the ‘Board of Peace’ that US President Donald Trump established when he brokered the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in October 2025.

“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,” Hamas spokesman Hazem 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.”

Whether Hamas’ armed wing will disarm, which is one of Israel’s key demands, remains unclear.

The topic of arms was due to form part of discussions between various Palestinian political groups that took place in Egypt recently.

Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told Al Jazeera in early June that once the NCAG takes over governance, “there will be no visible weapons in the streets and alleys of Gaza except the official weapons belonging to this committee, which is the official Palestinian police”.

But Badran made it clear this would not mean a total surrender of arms. 

“We are not talking about handing them over; we are talking about, at least, weapons not being visible except for the official weapons of the Palestinian police,” he said.

In a response to the Hamas announcement today, the ‘Board of Peace’ said it had “taken note”, but added: “Ultimately, our assessment will be guided by actions, not promises, to meet the critical needs of the people of Gaza.”

Israel remains in control of 70% of Gaza, where it has killed more than 1,000 people since the nominal ceasefire came into effect in October 2025. A recent independent UN report said Israel has continued to carry out genocide in Gaza, particularly by deliberately targeting children, despite the ceasefire agreement. 

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While Hamas said today that it aims to “remove any pretexts for the (Israeli) occupation”, just last week Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich called for the immediate establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza. 

With reporting from AFP

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