Hamas dissolves its governing bodies in Gaza as stalemate with Israel continues

Short of weapons, Hamas is relinquishing control of the Gaza Strip – at least verbally. The Palestinian Islamist movement announced on Monday, July 6, during a press conference, that "the president of the government's emergency committee, Mohammed al-Farra, has officially submitted his resignation." The group has also dissolved the emergency committee, the body that has run the enclave since Hamas seized control in 2007. Hamas proposes handing over power to a technocratic and apolitical body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (CNAG). This entity was created in January by the Board of Peace, itself established in November 2025 at the behest of US President Donald Trump, after he pushed hard to broker an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement on October 10, 2025. While the 13 members of the CNAG are Palestinian, Israel approved their appointment. They are monitored by Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, who serves as the main link between the Board of Peace and the Committee. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem described Monday's announcement as "a positive step forward on the path to implementing the ceasefire agreement." He portrayed it as a gesture of goodwill, in contrast with Israel's intransigence, as Israel continues to bar the CNAG from entering the coastal territory. You have 80.74% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.