While Gaza lies in ruins, political changes are afoot. Hamas, the Islamist militant group that has held power in the Palestinian enclave since 2007, on Monday said it had dissolved its governing bodies, clearing the way for a technocratic committee to administer the territory.
Head of the Hamas media office Ismaïl al-Thawabta on July 6 said that the head of Hamas’s “government emergency committee” had resigned, the body had been dissolved and that its “powers have been transferred to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza” (NCAG).
The NCAG, which is currently based in Cairo, was created under a UN mandate but is supervised by the Board of Peace created by US President Donald Trump during negotiations which brought about the ceasefire that has been in place between Israel and Hamas since October 2025.
The Israeli government was quick to dismiss the announcement by Hamas as a “stunt” to avoid disarmament which is a condition of the ceasefire, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently said that he wants his country to control 70 percent of the Gaza Strip “soon”.
In this context, will an administrative withdrawal by Hamas really be a step towards peace?
The move is a “gesture” by the militant group to improve the situation in Gaza but may not be enough, said Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, emeritus professor and honorary president of the Institute for Research and Studies on the Mediterranean and the Middle East (IREMMO).
FRANCE 24 asked the expert for his analysis of the situation.
FRANCE 24: Is what we saw on Monday a real transfer of power in Gaza or just a superficial concession from Hamas?
Jean-Paul Chagnollaud: We can’t jump to conclusions about this announcement or assume that a transition will definitely happen at this stage. Above all, it’s a declaration of intent linked to the intense ongoing negotiations led mainly by Egypt, who is playing a major role.
Hamas has said for some time that it is willing to withdraw from direct administration in Gaza. In theory this opens the door for the NCAG, directed by Ali Chaat, to take the reins in the territory. However, this project is far from being finalised. A governing administration needs to be present on the ground but for the moment the Israeli authorities are blocking the Palestinian committee from entering Gaza.
In addition, even if Hamas is not in control of governing bodies, the people working in local government offices will stay the same. Israel will probably find this insufficient.
Read moreDissolution of Hamas’s Gaza governing body won’t bring ‘significant change of life’
To move forward Israel must make its own concessions, starting with the progressive retreat of its army behind the yellow line [which, under the conditions of the peace plan, has divided Gaza into an Israeli-controlled zone and a Palestinian controlled zone since October 2025].
Is it possible that a political retreat by Hamas will, in the fullness of time, lead to the disarmament of the group’s military arm?
We must distinguish between the military aspect and the administrative aspect of Hamas. It is clear that Hamas is not going to completely give up its weapons. But there has been some progress: Hamas is now talking about accepting to “lay down” arms but without “surrendering” them as the Trump plan specifies.
Hamas has already brought up the possibility of “handing over” its weapons to a Palestinian authority. This transfer could possibly happen under the supervision of the new NCAG administration committee. We don’t have the details on this, but it is an essential component of the negotiations.
The Israeli press is already making headlines with this story today because, for Netanyahu’s government, Hamas’ resistance to total demilitarisation is the main justification for not moving forward with the peace process.
Why has Hamas chosen to announce its withdrawal from Gaza’s administration now? Was it put under pressure by Trump’s Board of Peace?
It’s more a strategy, backed by Egypt, to break the deadlock on the peace plan than the result of pressure from the Board of Peace. Phase two of the ceasefire plan involves a withdrawal for the Israeli army, which is currently pushing forward into Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is terrible. A recent UN report found that Gazans are facing infestations of rats and lice as Israel has banned entry for the most basic hygiene products. Faced with such deprivation, Hamas has no choice but to try to make some progress on Trump’s plan.
With this gesture, which is supported by other Palestinian groups, Hamas has taken a step towards accepting NCAG management in Gaza.
How can this new committee hope to govern while Israel controls 60% of the territory in Gaza?
The actions of the Israeli army in Gaza, such as moving the concrete blocks that mark the yellow line, violate the terms of the peace plan. In reality, the Israelis are pursuing a different agenda. They cannot openly oppose Donald Trump’s plan but they are doing everything in their power to block it.
What the Israelis want is to drive a large number of Gazans into exile. Faced with this dynamic, the announcement from Hamas is an attempt to redress the power balance. Today Israel has so much power in Gaza that it can call the shots.
Read moreIsrael’s targeting of Palestinian children establishes ‘genocidal intent’ in Gaza, UN probe says
Is there a role for Mahmoud Abbas’ Palestinian Authority to play in Gaza during this transition?
The Palestinian Authority has been sidelined in this process. The Israelis have refused to let it get involved in the Gaza peace plan because that would make it acknowledge a broader question about Palestine that would include the West Bank.
The 20-point peace plan is a project that is focussed on Gaza that confines the issue of Palestine to the Gaza Strip. Even if there is a sentence at the end of the document that alludes vaguely to “self-determination” or the creation of a Palestinian state, there is no mention of the West Bank.
This article was adapted from the original in French.
This story originally appeared on France24
