Hamas Announces Transfer of Gaza Civil Administration While Retaining Weapons

Hamas said it will dissolve its governing body in the Gaza Strip and hand over civil administration to a transitional authority composed of Palestinian experts, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The move is presented as part of the U.S.-brokered peace plan that envisages a technocratic administration taking over civilian duties while Hamas keeps its armed forces.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded with skepticism, noting that as long as Hamas retains weapons, any civilian government will remain under its influence. Analysts view the announcement as a tactical effort by Hamas to shift political pressure and counter Israeli claims that Gaza’s reconstruction is stalled by its governance, rather than a genuine relinquishment of power. The NCAG members are currently in Cairo awaiting permission to enter Gaza, and Israel now controls a larger portion of the territory than in recent months.

The development adds a new dimension to the stalled Israeli‑Palestinian negotiations, highlighting the tension between Hamas’s willingness to cede administrative responsibilities and its refusal to demilitarise.