Hamas dissolves its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee

Hamas announced on Monday that it had dissolved its government in Gaza and was preparing to transfer administrative authority to a United Nations-backed technocratic committee as part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.

The militant group did not say whether it would take the key step of disarming or hand over security responsibilities to an international force. However, it described the move as a demonstration of its commitment to rebuilding Gaza after years of conflict.

It remained unclear whether the announcement, made by a lower-ranking Hamas official, would result in any significant changes on the ground.

The Board of Peace, the new body established under US President Donald Trump to oversee Gaza's governance and reconstruction, said it was aware of Hamas' announcement but would judge its significance by "actions, not promises".

In a statement on X, the board stressed that the technocratic committee must assume control of all weapons in Gaza, in line with the ceasefire agreement.

Speaking at a press conference, Ismail al-Thawabta, director general of Hamas' Government Media Office, said only "technical and professional staff" would remain in their posts to manage the enclave's day-to-day affairs.

"All employees working in service provision are 'state employees' and are fully prepared to work under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza," al-Thawabta said at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem described the move as "a positive step forward on the path to implement the ceasefire deal".

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the announcement, saying it was intended to avoid the issue of disarmament.

"As long as Hamas retains its weapons, any civilian government will of course operate as Hamas dictates," he wrote on X.

The Cairo-based technocratic committee is chaired by Ali Shaath, a Gaza-born engineer and former Palestinian Authority official. It has been tasked with restoring essential services and overseeing civilian affairs under the supervision of the United Nations and the Board of Peace.

In a statement on X, Shaath acknowledged Hamas' announcement and said the committee could function effectively only if there was "a single governing authority operating under one legal framework" and "a unified security apparatus accountable to that authority".

Nine months after the ceasefire agreement was signed, negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain largely deadlocked over the implementation of its second phase, particularly the disarmament of Hamas and Gaza's reconstruction.

Hamas has insisted that the first phase of the agreement must be fully implemented before discussions on its weapons can begin.

The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed 73,098 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-led administration, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains casualty records regarded as broadly reliable by UN agencies and independent experts. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children account for about half of those killed.

Although Israeli strikes have declined significantly since the ceasefire came into effect on 10 October, they continue almost daily. The Israeli military says it targets Hamas and other militant groups, often stating they were preparing attacks, though civilians have also been killed.

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, according to health officials.

The Israeli military said it had targeted a Hamas operative in Gaza City and a militant from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group in Khan Younis.

Militant groups have continued to carry out shooting attacks against Israeli troops in Gaza, and five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire took effect.