The Palestinian group said on Monday, July 6, that the governing body’s chief and senior officials had resigned and that it was ready to transfer administrative authority to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
The move marks a significant shift for Hamas, which has governed the territory since seizing control from rival Fatah in 2007.
Who could take over Gaza?
The NCAG is a 15-member body of Palestinian technocrats led by Ali Shaath, a former Palestinian Authority official. The committee is tasked with running Gaza’s civil administration and restoring essential services in the war-ravaged territory.
Shaath said the committee was ready to assume its responsibilities once the “necessary resources and enabling conditions” were in place.
The body is backed by the United Nations and operates under the supervision of the Board of Peace, chaired by US President Donald Trump. It has, however, remained based in Cairo and is yet to take effective control inside Gaza.
Has Hamas really given up power?
Hamas has dissolved its civilian governing body but has not said it will disarm or surrender security control in Gaza.
Israel has dismissed the announcement as a “stunt”.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said any civilian administration operating while Hamas retains its weapons would effectively remain under the group’s control.
The Board of Peace welcomed the announcement but said Hamas would be judged by its actions, including whether the new committee gains full administrative control and whether weapons in Gaza are brought under a single authority.
Hamas, meanwhile, has maintained that it will not disarm until Israeli military operations end.
The NCAG’s actual takeover, therefore, will depend not just on Hamas handing over ministries and civilian institutions, but on resolving the much bigger question of who controls Gaza’s security and weapons.
