Hamas withdraws from Gaza governance to unblock peace plan
Hamas has dissolved its governing bodies in Gaza, transferring power to a technocratic committee in a bid to advance the stalled peace plan. Experts see it as a gesture, but note Israeli opposition and lack of disarmament remain obstacles.
Hamas announced on Monday that it has dissolved its governing structures in the Gaza Strip, paving the way for a technocratic committee to administer the territory. Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas media office, said on July 6 that the head of the "government emergency committee" had resigned, the committee was dissolved, and its powers transferred to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The NCAG, based in Cairo, operates under a UN mandate and is supervised by the Board of Peace created by US President Donald Trump.
The Israeli government dismissed the move as a "stunt" to avoid disarmament, a condition of the ceasefire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated his desire for Israel to control 70% of Gaza "soon".
According to Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, emeritus professor at IREMMO, the move is a gesture but may not be enough. He noted that Israel is blocking the NCAG from entering Gaza, and local government workers remain the same. On disarmament, Hamas has discussed "laying down" arms without "surrendering" them, possibly handing them over to the Palestinian Authority, but details are lacking.
Phase two of the ceasefire calls for Israeli withdrawal, but Israel continues to advance into Gaza. The humanitarian situation is dire, with a UN report citing rat and lice infestations due to a ban on hygiene products. Israel is also violating the peace plan by moving concrete blocks marking the yellow line. Chagnollaud argued that Israel is pursuing its own agenda, aiming to drive many Gazans into exile. The Palestinian Authority has been sidelined, as the peace plan focuses solely on Gaza, ignoring the West Bank.
