Hamas Says It Will Give Up Gaza Government But Keep Its Guns

Hamas said Monday it dissolved its de facto government in Gaza and is ready to transfer civilian control of the territory to a U.N.-backed committee of Palestinian technocrats, a move tied to the ceasefire plan brokered by the Trump administration.

The announcement marks a potential shift in who handles Gaza’s government services, but it does not answer the central question hanging over the ceasefire: whether Hamas will give up its weapons.

If implemented, the proposal would be the most significant change to Gaza’s governing structure since Hamas violently seized control of the territory in 2007, potentially ending nearly two decades in which the group has served as Gaza’s de facto governing authority. 

Hamas said its Government Emergency Committee, which has overseen ministries in Gaza, had been dissolved. Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas-run government media office, said technical and professional staff would remain in place to keep basic services running and would be prepared to work under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

Hamas described the decision as a step toward implementing the ceasefire agreement and facilitating an administrative transition. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem called it “a positive step forward” in carrying out the deal.

The National Committee is based in Cairo and led by Ali Shaath, a Gaza-born engineer and former Palestinian Authority official. The committee is expected to oversee civilian affairs and restore essential services under the supervision of the U.N. and the Trump-appointed Board of Peace.

The Board of Peace said it was aware of Hamas’s announcement but would judge the move by “actions, not promises.” The board also stressed that the technocratic committee must control all weapons in Gaza under the ceasefire agreement.

Israel dismissed the announcement, saying Hamas was trying to avoid disarmament while preserving its influence. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Hamas’s willingness to make room for a technocratic government was designed to prevent the group from giving up its weapons.

“As long as Hamas retains its weapons, any civilian government will of course operate as Hamas dictates,” Saar said.

Hamas has not said it will disarm or hand over security to an international force. Reuters reported that Hamas said its ministries and appointed staff would stay in place and that the group would still oversee security and policing in parts of Gaza under its control.

The dispute comes nine months after the ceasefire framework was signed, with Israel and Hamas still deadlocked over the second phase of the agreement. That phase includes Hamas’s disarmament and Gaza’s reconstruction.

Hamas has insisted on implementing the first phase of the agreement before moving to discussions over its weapons. Israel, meanwhile, has said all parties must fully implement the Trump-backed plan, which includes Hamas laying down its arms.

Shaath said the committee was ready to assume responsibility in Gaza once the necessary resources and conditions were in place. He also said the committee’s success would require one governing authority, one legal framework, and one security apparatus accountable to that authority.

The announcement came as fighting continued despite the ceasefire. Gaza health officials claimed that Israeli strikes killed at least five people Monday, including two in an apartment in Gaza City and three in Khan Younis. The Israeli military said the Gaza City strike targeted a Hamas operative while a Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant was targeted in Khan Younis.

The war began after Hamas led the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.