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Hamas said it had dissolved its Gaza government and would transfer authority to a technical committee. The move tests the ceasefire, with disarmament and security control still unresolved.
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Deiral-balah,UPDATED: Jul 6, 2026 21:20 IST
Hamas said on Monday it had dissolved its government in Gaza and was preparing to transfer power to a UN-backed technical committee under a US-brokered ceasefire deal. The group said the move showed its commitment to Gaza's reconstruction after years of war, but it did not say whether it would take the key step of disarming or hand over security to an international force.
It was not clear if the announcement would lead to any meaningful change on the ground. The Board of Peace, the new body led by US President Donald Trump and tasked with governing and rebuilding Gaza, said it was aware of the announcement but would assess its impact based on 'actions, not promises'. It also said the technocratic committee must control all weapons in Gaza, as laid out in the ceasefire agreement.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Ismail al-Thawabta, general director of the Hamas-run Government Media Office, said 'only technical and professional staff' would remain in their posts to run the Palestinian enclave's day-to-day affairs.
'All employees working in service provision are state employees and are fully prepared to work under the Committee for the Administration of Gaza,' al-Thawabta said during the news conference in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem called it 'a positive step forward on the path to implement the ceasefire deal.'
Israel dismissed the announcement as irrelevant. 'The alleged resignation of the Hamas government, where all of the Hamas members stay in their positions, is a spin that has no significance,' an Israeli official said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The committee of technocrats is based in Cairo and is chaired by Ali Shaath, a Gaza-born engineer and former official with the Palestinian Authority. It has a mandate to restore essential services and oversee civilian affairs under the supervision of the UN and the Board of Peace.
In a statement on X, Shaath acknowledged the Hamas announcement and said that for the committee to function effectively, there must be 'a single governing authority operating under one legal framework' and 'a unified security apparatus accountable to that authority.'
Nine months after the ceasefire was signed, negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain largely deadlocked over the implementation of its second phase, including the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of Gaza. Hamas has insisted on implementing the first phase before moving to discussions on its weapons.
The October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas-led militants that triggered the war killed about 1,200 people in Israel, and 251 others were taken hostage. Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed 73,098 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, is staffed by medical professionals and keeps detailed records that are generally seen as reliable by UN agencies and independent experts. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants, but says women and children make up around half of those killed.
Israeli strikes have reduced considerably since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, but they continue almost every day. Israel's military says it targets Hamas and other militants, often saying they were planning attacks.
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 targeted a Hamas operative in the Gaza City strike and a militant from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the attacks in Khan Younis.
Militants have also carried out shooting attacks on Israeli troops in Gaza, and five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire. Overall, Hamas has announced the dissolution of its government and a planned handover to a technical committee, but major questions remain over weapons, security and whether the move will alter the situation on the ground.
With PTI Inputs
- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jul 6, 2026 21:20 IST
