Hamas has announced the dissolution of the governing body that has administered the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades, marking a significant political shift as efforts continue to shape the territory’s post-war administration.
In a statement, the Gaza Government Media Office said all legal and administrative procedures had been completed to transfer civilian governance to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a technocratic body established to oversee the territory’s civil affairs.
The announcement included the resignation of Mohammed Abdul Khaleq Al-Farra, head of the government’s Emergency Committee, which was formally dissolved to facilitate the transition.
Hamas said the decision was presented to representatives of Palestinian political factions, tribal leaders and civil society organisations during a meeting attended by a United Nations observer.
The group has repeatedly stated since the October 2025 ceasefire with Israel that it is willing to step away from day-to-day governance. However, negotiations over its disarmament remain unresolved and continue to be a key obstacle in talks on Gaza’s political future.
The NCAG, headed by Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaath and currently based in Cairo, is expected to assume responsibility for civilian administration once conditions allow. Hamas said it is prepared to hand over governmental duties to support the committee’s work.
Political analysts described the move as an important symbolic step but noted that broader negotiations over Gaza’s future remain tied to unresolved issues, including the fate of Hamas’s weapons, Israeli security demands and the implementation of the next phase of the ceasefire agreement.
The announcement came as Israeli airstrikes continued in parts of Gaza despite the ceasefire, with local health officials reporting additional casualties in separate attacks across the territory.
