Hamas Ready to Step Aside from Gaza Governance

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has announced its readiness to support the transfer of Gaza’s administrative duties to an independent civilian body, emphasizing that it does not seek a role in governing the territory in the future.

In a statement issued yesterday, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the group is waiting for the formation of a committee composed of independent figures to manage Gaza’s civil affairs across key sectors. He noted that the proposal has already gained approval from Hamas as well as other Palestinian factions.

Qassem said Hamas would help ensure a smooth handover and cooperate fully with the committee, reiterating that the movement made a clear decision some time ago to remain outside any formal administrative structure in Gaza.

His comments come in the context of resolutions adopted at an emergency Arab summit on Gaza in March 2024, which firmly rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians and endorsed Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction initiative as a collective Arab plan.

That initiative calls for the establishment of a temporary administrative body to govern Gaza during a six-month transitional phase. The committee would consist of non-aligned technocrats, function independently of political factions, and operate under the authority of the Palestinian government—an arrangement Hamas publicly welcomed at the time.

The statement also followed media reports by Times of Israel suggesting that US President Donald Trump is expected to present the second stage of his Gaza initiative next week, despite reported objections from Israeli officials.

According to the report, Trump plans to announce the creation of a “peace council” along with additional governing mechanisms to oversee Gaza’s post-war administration, though their rollout may be delayed by several weeks.

Trump first unveiled a 20-point Gaza plan on September 29, 2025, aimed at ending the conflict. The proposal included a ceasefire, the release of Israeli captives, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, the formation of a technocratic governing body, deployment of an international stabilisation force, and a call for Hamas to disarm.

On November 18, 2025, the UN Security Council passed a US-backed resolution authorising the deployment of a temporary international force in Gaza until the end of 2027, tasked with maintaining stability under a unified command structure approved by the council.

Despite the ceasefire taking effect on October 10, Israeli forces have committed hundreds of violations, resulting in the deaths of 424 Palestinians and injuries to 1,189 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The truce brought an end to Israel’s two-year military campaign in Gaza, which killed nearly 71,400 Palestinians—most of them women and children—wounded more than 171,200 people since October 2023, and left large parts of the enclave devastated.