Hamas dissolves its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee
Hamas has announced the dissolution of its administrative government in Gaza to transfer power to a technocratic committee under the oversight of the UN.
Hamas announced the dissolution of its governing body in the Gaza Strip on Monday, July 6, 2026, marking a potential shift in the administrative control of the war-ravaged territory. The group stated it is preparing to transfer authority to a technocratic committee as part of a ceasefire deal. While the move suggests a change in civilian administration, it has been met with skepticism regarding the militant group's military status and the future of its security apparatus.
The announcement was delivered by Ismail al-Thawabta, the general director of the Hamas-run Government Media Office, during a press conference at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Al-Thawabta stated that technical and professional staff would remain in their roles to manage the enclave's daily affairs, asserting that all employees involved in service provision were prepared to operate under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem described the dissolution as a positive step forward on the path to implement the ceasefire deal
and an effort to remove pretexts for continued military operations.
Media additions
The NCAG, which is chaired by Gaza-born engineer Ali Shaath, has a mandate to restore essential services and oversee civilian affairs. The committee is intended to function under the supervision of the United Nations and the Board of Peace. The Board of Peace is an international body chaired by President Donald Trump that is tasked with the governance and reconstruction of Gaza. Following the announcement, the Board stated that while it is aware of the decision, its assessment will be based on actions, not promises.
The Board reiterated that for the transition to be effective, the technocratic committee must maintain control over all weapons in Gaza, as required by the existing ceasefire agreement.
Ali Shaath acknowledged the announcement but emphasized the practical requirements for the committee's success. He noted that effective governance necessitates a single governing authority operating under one legal framework
and a unified security apparatus accountable to that authority.
The committee has reportedly remained based in Cairo for months, with its entry into Gaza hindered by Israeli objections. The NCAG describes itself as a transitional, technocratic, and apolitical entity.
Israeli officials rejected the move as a superficial maneuver. Gideon Saar, the Israeli Foreign Minister, stated on social media that the announcement was designed to avoid the requirement for disarmament. As long as Hamas retains its weapons, any civilian government will of course operate as Hamas dictates,
he wrote. An unnamed Israeli official similarly characterized the resignation as a form of "spin" that lacked significance because the individuals involved in the previous governing structure remain in their positions.
Analysts highlight the distinction between administrative governance and the underlying power structures in the region. Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, suggested that the group is attempting to shed the visible burden of managing a destroyed territory while retaining its internal security networks, tunnel infrastructure, and patronage systems. I would not confuse the dissolution of an administrative body with the surrender of power,
Krieg said.
The announcement follows nine months of stalled negotiations regarding the second phase of the ceasefire, which includes the disarmament of militant groups and reconstruction efforts. Since the conflict began following the October 7, 2023, attack, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages in Israel, the retaliatory offensive has killed 73,098 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. While Israeli strikes have decreased since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, they continue on a near-daily basis. On Monday, Israeli strikes killed at least five people in Gaza, including three in Khan Younis in the south and two in an apartment in Gaza City, health officials said. The Israeli military stated it targeted a Hamas operative in the Gaza City strike and a militant from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group in the attacks in Khan Younis. Militants have carried out shooting attacks against Israeli troops in Gaza, and five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.
What to watch next
- Physical Entry: Whether the NCAG will be granted access to the Gaza Strip to begin operations independent of Hamas influence.
- Security Consolidation: Potential progress in negotiations regarding the second phase of the ceasefire, specifically the demand for a single security apparatus and total disarmament.
- Service Restoration: The ability of the technocratic committee to secure the resources necessary to resume basic services in an area where much of the energy and civil infrastructure has been destroyed.
