Hamas has officially dissolved the governing body that administered the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades, marking a major political shift as the Palestinian resistance movement seeks to facilitate a new civilian administration under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
The announcement was made on Monday after Mohammed al-Farra, head of Hamas’s emergency government committee, submitted his resignation and formally dissolved the committee. According to Hamas officials, the decision is intended to ease the transition of civilian governance to the NCAG, a technocratic body established in Cairo following the Gaza ceasefire brokered in October 2025.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the movement’s decision demonstrates its willingness to step away from direct governance in Gaza to remove what it described as obstacles used by Israel to justify continued military operations. However, he stressed that the move does not address the more contentious issue of Hamas’s military wing and its weapons.
The NCAG welcomed the announcement, saying it is fully prepared to assume administrative responsibilities once adequate resources and authority are provided. Committee chief Ali Shaath emphasized that successful governance requires a single governing authority, one legal framework, and unified control over armed forces.
The Board of Peace, which facilitated the establishment of the NCAG, also welcomed Hamas’s decision but reiterated that lasting stability depends on all weapons in Gaza coming under the authority of the new administration. The board said the principle of “one authority, one law, and one weapon” remains central to the implementation of the Comprehensive Gaza Peace Plan and relevant United Nations resolutions.
Political analysts believe Hamas’s decision is an important symbolic step, but they argue that the future of Gaza remains uncertain unless the issue of disarmament is resolved. Experts note that Hamas has consistently maintained it will not surrender its weapons without broader political guarantees and the establishment of a recognized Palestinian governing authority.
Negotiations between Hamas, Palestinian factions, and international mediators have continued in Cairo as efforts to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire face repeated delays. While Israel has rejected any future Hamas rule in Gaza, it has also opposed an immediate return of the Palestinian Authority to govern the territory.
The future governance of Gaza, alongside the unresolved issue of Hamas’s disarmament, remains one of the most significant challenges in securing a lasting ceasefire and long-term regional stability.
