CAIRO — Hamas announced that it had dissolved its de facto governing body in the Gaza Strip and was prepared to transfer civilian administrative responsibilities to a Palestinian technocratic committee, describing the move as part of efforts to advance a broader post-war governance framework for the territory.
The Islamist group said the committee that had overseen Gaza's ministries would cease operating, while government ministries and civil servants would continue providing public services during the transition. Hamas said it was ready to hand over governmental responsibilities to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a technocratic body established under a U.S.-backed post-war plan.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the decision was intended to remove obstacles to implementing the proposed governance framework and reaffirmed the group's willingness to cooperate with the technocratic committee on civilian administration. Hamas officials, however, indicated that the announcement did not amount to disarmament or the dissolution of the group's military wing, an issue that remains a central point of dispute in negotiations over Gaza's future.
Israel dismissed the announcement, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar describing it as insufficient and arguing that any civilian administration would remain under Hamas' influence unless the group relinquished its weapons. Israeli officials have repeatedly said they oppose any post-war arrangement that leaves Hamas with military capabilities or political control in Gaza.
The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, headed by Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaath, said it was prepared to assume responsibility for civilian governance once the necessary political and logistical conditions were in place. Officials associated with the committee have said its deployment has been delayed in part because of disagreements over implementation and access to Gaza.
The announcement came as efforts continued to advance a ceasefire and reconstruction framework for Gaza following months of conflict. Despite a truce reached previously, violence has persisted, with Israeli military operations and Palestinian casualty reports continuing to be recorded by local authorities and the Israeli military reporting strikes against militants.
Hamas has governed Gaza since seizing control of the enclave from the rival Fatah movement in 2007 after winning Palestinian legislative elections the previous year. While the group's latest move represents a significant change in its role in civilian administration, negotiations over security arrangements, disarmament and the long-term governance of Gaza remain unresolved.
