On Tuesday, the Palestinian movement Hamas announced the dissolution of the emergency government committee responsible for administering Gaza, after two decades of ruling the besieged territory. The move prepares the ground for transferring responsibilities to the National Committee for Gaza Management, in line with the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Government spokesman Ismail Thawabteh told AFP: “The head of the emergency government committee and acting head of governmental follow-up, Mohammed al-Farra, has officially submitted his resignation,” adding that the emergency committee was dissolved “to facilitate the administrative and governmental transition to the National Committee for Gaza Management, agreed upon by Palestinian factions and forces.”

A Hamas source told AFP that the movement “decided to dissolve the governmental committee (Hamas government) in Gaza, and a nationally accepted figure will be appointed to oversee the committee’s work temporarily until the National Committee formally assumes governmental responsibilities.”

Since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in October, Hamas has repeatedly affirmed its readiness to step aside from managing Gaza’s affairs and hand them over to the National Committee, composed of independent professionals.

This marks a significant political shift for Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007 following violent clashes with rival Fatah, led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

After Israel assassinated committee head Issam al-Da’alis in March 2025, Mohammed al-Farra, formerly minister of local government and municipalities, assumed leadership of the 20-member government committee. A Hamas source confirmed that al-Farra will resign along with his committee, turning it into a temporary caretaker body.

The Hamas government’s media office announced a “major press conference” scheduled for Monday afternoon.

A Palestinian faction official involved in Cairo talks said Hamas informed participating factions last week that it had “notified mediators of a goodwill gesture to dissolve the committee.” He added that factions “welcomed Hamas’s decision, considering it a serious step toward handing over responsibilities to the National Committee, chaired by Ali Shaath, once it arrives in Gaza.”

Committee members, including Shaath, currently reside in Cairo temporarily, as Israel has not yet approved their entry into Gaza, according to a committee member.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions have held several rounds of negotiations in Cairo with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators, seeking to bridge differences between Hamas and Israel regarding Gaza arrangements.