After 20 years of governance marked by a suffocating siege, deep political divisions, and relentless military conflict, Hamas has officially dissolved its Government Emergency Committee in the Gaza Strip, a body that effectively ran the Palestinian territory.
The move transfers administrative authority to a newly formed technocratic body, marking a historic pivot for the besieged enclave. The handover to the “National Committee for the Administration of Gaza,” operating under the internationally backed “Gaza Peace Council,” officially concludes a turbulent era.
Hamas’s rule began on January 26, 2006, when the group won a massive majority in Palestinian parliamentary elections, securing 76 of 132 seats. Despite high turnout, Western powers rejected the results, leading to an Israeli blockade. The situation escalated after the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in June 2006, and by June 2007, Hamas had full control of Gaza.
Over the years, 80% of Gaza’s population became aid-dependent, 80% of factories closed, and repeated Israeli offensives in 2008, 2012, and 2014 devastated the enclave. Hamas formed an administrative committee in 2014, later dissolved it under Egyptian pressure, and established a follow-up committee in 2018.
Following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 people, the Israeli regime launched a genocidal war that has killed over 70,000 Palestinians. During the war, Hamas activated a central operations room, forming the Government Emergency Committee.
After a ceasefire in January 2026, the US regime approved a transitional structure including the Gaza Peace Council and the National Committee. On July 6, 2026, the Government Media Office announced the dissolution of the Emergency Committee.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the move as a “trick,” accusing Hamas of trying to replicate the “Hezbollah model.” Under the transition, about 45,000 government employees will remain in their positions to ensure service continuity.
Source: www.aljazeera.com