Hamas Officially Dissolves Gaza Government After 19 Years, Transfers Authority
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Hamas has officially announced the dissolution of its government in the Gaza Strip after nearly two decades in power. Civil governmental authority will henceforth be transferred to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG).
The NCAG is a transitional body led by Palestinian technocrats, established as part of a peace plan supported by the United States (US) and the United Nations (UN).
Director General of the Gaza Government Media Office, Ismail al-Thawabta, said all Hamas government officials will end their terms of office, while technical and professional staff will be retained to ensure public services are not disrupted.
“All employees working in service provision are civil servants and are fully prepared to work under the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza,” he said after a press conference at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah, quoted by Al Jazeera on Thursday (9/7/2026).
Hamas described the step as part of implementing the ceasefire agreement. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem called the dissolution of the government a “positive step forward” to support the transition process towards a new administration in Gaza.
What Is the NCAG?
The NCAG was established in January 2026 under UN Security Council Resolution Number 2803 as part of a 20-point peace plan backed by the US to end the war in Gaza. The body is led by Palestinian technocrats, including Acting Commissioner Ali Abdel Hamid Shaath, and is designed as a neutral transitional administration.
Although it has been formed, NCAG members have so far not been permitted by Israel to enter the Gaza Strip, so its operations are temporarily being conducted from Cairo, Egypt. Al-Thawabta urged all parties to expedite the process.
“We call for the NCAG to be allowed to enter Gaza immediately and carry out its national and administrative responsibilities in order to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people and assist their recovery,” he said.
The Duties of the New Gaza Administration
Unlike the previous Hamas government, the NCAG is focused on managing civilian affairs. The body is responsible for restoring health services, education, water supplies and day-to-day governmental administration.
In addition, the NCAG will oversee internal security through the formation of a single unified police force tasked with maintaining law and order. The body reports to the High Commissioner under the Presidential Peace Council of President Donald Trump as well as the UN Security Council, before power is expected to transfer to the Palestinian Authority in 2027.
Shaath said the NCAG is ready to take over governance once all basic requirements are met. He stressed that the new administration requires a single governmental authority, a clear legal framework, and a unified security apparatus accountable to that authority.
“We are fully prepared to assume national responsibility as soon as the necessary conditions are met,” he said.
Will Hamas Disarm?
Although it is handing over civilian governance, Hamas has not explicitly stated that it will disarm. The group has only expressed readiness to hand over security responsibilities as part of the transition process.
This has prompted rejection from Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Hamas’s move as merely a “deception”. According to him, Hamas is attempting to replicate the Hezbollah model in Lebanon, whereby a civilian government manages public services whilst the group remains the primary military force.
“Israel insists on the full implementation of the Trump plan, with the core principle of disarming Hamas and all terrorist organisations, as well as the total demilitarisation of the Gaza Strip,” Saar said.
Why Is Hamas Dissolving Its Government?
A number of analysts view the decision as an attempt by Hamas to demonstrate to the administration of US President Donald Trump that it is willing to relinquish control of governance, so that obstacles to the peace process can no longer be attributed to Hamas.
Muhammad Shehada, a political analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations, believes the move is also intended to refute Israel’s accusation that Hamas still wishes to retain full control of Gaza. In his view, Hamas hopes the Trump administration will see the dissolution of the government as proof of its commitment to the peace process.
The Peace Process Remains Stalled
Although the Hamas government has been dissolved, the situation in Gaza has yet to show signs of easing. Negotiations towards the second phase of the ceasefire remain hampered by differences over Hamas’s disarmament, the entry of humanitarian aid, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and plans for Gaza’s reconstruction.
Israeli attacks have also continued following the announcement. To date, at least 73,098 Palestinians have been reported killed since the war began in October 2023. Since the US-mediated ceasefire was agreed in October 2025, at least 1,005 more people have lost their lives.
Israel also still controls around 70% of the Gaza Strip, leaving most Palestinians living in an increasingly narrow and densely populated area.