Hamas has announced the end of its government in Gaza, clearing the way for a Palestinian technocratic committee to take over civilian administration after nearly two decades of Hamas rule.
Hamas officials said Monday that the group is preparing to dissolve the body that has governed the Gaza Strip for almost 20 years.
The move marks a major political shift for Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since its fighters seized the territory from rival Palestinian movement Fatah in 2007.
Technocratic committee to take over
Hamas said the decision will pave the way for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), also known as the Palestinian Technocratic Committee, to assume civilian responsibilities.
The committee is headed by Palestinian official Ali Shaath and was formed with the support of the Board of Peace, which was established by US President Donald Trump after he brokered the Gaza ceasefire last October.
Hamas to act as caretaker
A Hamas official said the movement had decided to dissolve the Gaza government committee and appoint a nationally accepted figure to oversee its work until the National Committee formally assumes its responsibilities.
Hamas said it does not want to be part of Gaza’s administrative structure after the ceasefire and will serve only as a caretaker during the transition period.
The group also said technical and professional staff would remain in place to ensure continuity of civilian services in Gaza.
Emergency Committee resignation announced
Hamas announced that the head of the Emergency Committee had submitted his resignation as the first step toward dissolving the “committee for monitoring government activity,” the body that effectively functions as Hamas’s government in the Gaza Strip.
The group said this step is intended to allow the technocratic committee to enter Gaza and receive administrative powers.
Palestinian factions informed in Cairo
A second Hamas official said the group had already informed other Palestinian factions about the decision during a recent meeting in Cairo.
According to the official, the factions welcomed Hamas’s move and described it as a serious step toward enabling the National Committee to take up its governing role.
Hamas’s media office in Gaza said it would hold an “important press conference” later Monday, without giving further details.
Disarmament issue remains unresolved
Since the Gaza ceasefire took effect last October, Hamas has repeatedly said it is prepared to step aside from day-to-day governance.
However, the question of Hamas’s disarmament remains unresolved and continues to be one of the main obstacles in talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas says it has completed its work and that the implementation of the third agreement must now be ensured. A Hamas leader said “the ball is in the court of the mediating countries.”
Ceasefire talks expected in Cairo
Sources in Hamas and other Palestinian factions said a new round of talks is expected in Cairo within two days to narrow differences over the second stage of the fragile ceasefire agreement.
Cairo is expected to host meetings within around 48 hours, with participation from Palestinian factions, including Hamas.
The mediators — led by Egypt, Qatar and Turkey — are working to stabilize the agreement and advance its next stages to achieve calm in Gaza.
Board of Peace role in discussions
Reports said Gaza’s representative on the Board of Peace, Nikolay Mladenov, had arrived in Egypt to join discussions alongside US officials working under the Board of Peace and international stabilization forces.
However, his participation could not be independently verified. People close to him previously said his role would depend on progress in negotiations over the agreement’s clauses after Hamas and other factions responded to the latest proposals.
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire included the release of the last Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.
The second phase was expected to include Hamas’s disarmament and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, but that process has been stalled for months.
Israel’s role and Gaza control dispute
According to the report, Israel violated the multi-stage agreement announced last October, killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, and eliminated senior Hamas officials.
Israeli forces have also expanded their presence in Gaza in recent months and now control nearly 70% of the territory.
Hamas is demanding the establishment of a Palestinian administration before it considers handing over any part of its arsenal.
The future of Gaza’s post-war governance remains one of the most sensitive issues in negotiations. Israel rejects any return of Hamas to power, but it also opposes a direct takeover by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority at this stage.
For now, Hamas’s decision to step aside from the administrative structure is being presented as a path toward transferring civilian rule to the Palestinian Technocratic Committee.
