Hamas announced today that it has dissolved the committee that governed the Gaza Strip for nearly two
By Bernard Moerdler,
Hamas announced today that it has dissolved the committee that governed the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades, clearing the way for a Palestinian technocratic body to take over the enclave's civilian administration. The head of the Government Emergency Committee, Mohammed al-Farra, submitted his resignation and dissolved the body, Hamas's government media office said at a press conference in Deir al-Balah. Hamas said governing powers would pass to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, a technocratic committee headed by Ali Shaath that was formed under the U.S.-backed plan for postwar Gaza but has been kept outside the territory for months amid Israeli objections to its entry. "Hamas has taken a new step in that it will no longer be in charge of the Gaza Strip," spokesman Hazem Qassem said. Hamas said it had coordinated the move with mediators in Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
The step does not resolve the central dispute blocking the plan's next phase, Hamas's disarmament. Hamas has said it will not hand over any of its weapons until a Palestinian administration is established, while Israel has rejected any return of Hamas to power and also opposes a direct takeover by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority at this stage. The announcement concerns civilian governance and does not by itself address Hamas's military capabilities. It follows a written list of U.S. demands to Israel, reported earlier, that called for Israel to begin recognizing the technocratic government as the governing authority in Gaza.
Topics: Gaza
Reported by Bernard Moerdler for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.