The Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip has announced the dissolution of a committee that previously coordinated the civilian administration as a de facto government.
July 6, 2026, 12:50 p.mJuly 6, 2026, 12:50 p.m
Hamas announced this at a press conference in Gaza. Accordingly, the tasks should be handed over to a new administration staffed by independent technocrats. The employees remained on duty.
Destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip.Image: keystone
Hamas is just giving away a little power
The announcement does not mean a complete renunciation of power by Hamas. Although it signals its willingness to hand over civilian administration, it rejects unconditional disarmament. It remains unclear whether a new administration can even begin its work. It is also unclear what influence Hamas will exert in the background and who will take responsibility for the security structures.
Disarmament of Hamas has so far been the central condition for a new administration to be installed. For the reconstruction of the largely destroyed Gaza Strip with its approximately two million inhabitants, such an administration would be more acceptable to donor states and international organizations than Hamas rule.
Hamas established a parallel administration in the Gaza Strip
After Hamas came to power in the Gaza Strip in 2007, a parallel administration to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority (PA) was created in Ramallah.
While the political and military leadership of Hamas makes strategic decisions, the “Committee for Supervision and Coordination of Government Work” took care of the civilian administration – i.e. ministries, authorities, municipal services, the civil service and coordination of internal security. In effect, it functioned as a government, but it was not internationally recognized. (dab/sda/dpa)