Reports on Sunday and Monday indicated that Hamas might be open to dissolving its government in Gaza. This is being widely reported as claims that Hamas might “hand over” governance or that it would “announce dissolution” of its government.
The US-backed Board of Peace said, “We have taken note of the announcement today regarding the dissolution of the ‘Emergency Committee’ in Gaza.”
The fact is that Hamas was never supposed to be running Gaza in the first place. It came to power illegally in 2007 through a coup in the wake of Palestinian elections in 2006.
Hamas had already kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in 2006, giving an example of the kind of “government” it would run. Hamas ran Gaza from 2007 until today, covering a decade and a half of crimes and terror.
Hamas was aided in this by the fact that the international community and the United Nations were willing to step in to fund services for most people in Gaza. This allowed Hamas to concentrate on preparing for war.
Trump succeeded hostage return promise, faces challenge of replacing Hamas
Hamas’s rule was cemented both by the international community and by short-sighted policies in Israel.
Cash flowed to Hamas from places such as Qatar, where Hamas leaders lived in luxury. The cash came through Israel and was presented as a way to deter Hamas. While some Israeli officials, such as former Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, objected to this arrangement, it was considered a good strategy in Jerusalem.
Reducing Hamas’s “governance” in Gaza was one of the goals of the Israel-Hamas War that broke out after October 7, 2023.
Israeli officials eventually changed their tone, from comparing Hamas to ISIS and claiming, “There won’t be Hamas,” to saying that the goal of the war was primarily just to reduce Hamas capabilities.
The Trump administration came into office promising to return the hostages. It succeeded in this endeavor, bringing about a ceasefire in mid-October 2025. Since then, the US and the administration’s Board of Peace have sought to create conditions for new governance in Gaza.
The Board of Peace says, “Ultimately, our assessment will be guided by actions, not promises, to meet the critical needs of the people of Gaza. Decisions must be comprehensive with respect to the requirements as set out in the roadmap for advancing governance, security, and transition in Gaza. We look forward to the successful conclusion of discussions on this roadmap, including on the implementation mechanisms necessary to enable the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) to assume full governing authority.”
The BoP also says that “the core principle remains one authority, one law and one weapon. This means the consolidation of all weapons under NCAG control, as provided for in the Comprehensive Gaza Peace Plan and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803. A genuine transfer of authority must enable the NCAG to exercise its mandate independently, including taking the administrative and governance decisions entrusted to it.”
The question is now whether the so-called Hamas Emergency Committee is really resigning. Another question also looms, regarding the role of NCAG. Some Israeli officials have not appeared very interested in working with this group or in working toward reconstruction in Gaza. Instead, voices in Jerusalem have talked about how Gaza will remain in ruins, and some people continue to suggest that those who live in Gaza should be encouraged to leave.
In essence, this means leaving Hamas in charge. There is talk of Israel taking over more of Gaza, up to some 70% to 80%. This is not envisioned in the Trump plan. This leaves a lot of questions about whether civilians in Gaza will ever be allowed to leave the Hamas-run part of Gaza and live a normal life under the technocratic committee.
If Hamas is really going to “dissolve” its illegal government in Gaza, then what will it do next? Is its goal to basically go underground as it has done in the West Bank and wait to return to power in Gaza? Is it going to simply change its name and put lipstick on the proverbial pig? Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat reports that Hamas's move will pave the way for the Trump plan to gain momentum.
Clearly, July is an important month for the United States in Gaza and the region. There are the NATO meetings in Turkey. France’s president is going to Syria. There is a ceasefire in Lebanon. The Trump administration is working on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran. Many wheels are in motion. Progress in Gaza has been rumored.
Ceasefires in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran
One hurdle is disarming Hamas. How does one disarm it, if it has dissolved its government? What is the address for talks with Hamas? Is it going to shift back to Cairo again, as it did last month? Or to Doha? Cairo inaugurated a new massive military center last week. Egypt is also critical of Israel’s policies.
Clearly Israel is skeptical about the Hamas claims. Jerusalem is also concerned that Hamas is not disarming as it should. A report at Ynet over the weekend made it seem that US policy on Gaza might be shifting.
However, the Board of Peace continues to demand disarmament. The Board intends to move forward with the plan envisioned by Trump.
Hamas may be saying it is dissolving to avoid being pressured to do so. If Hamas claims it has dissolved its role, how will pressure be applied to Hamas? Hamas can simply throw up its hands and say “we don’t run this,” and yet remain behind the curtain.
Now the big question is whether the Board of Peace and the NCAG can create a non-Hamas-run area. Can reconstruction begin? Can the 2 million civilians in Gaza trapped under Hamas rule finally be able to move to a non-Hamas-run area and receive basic civil rights?
The long-term goal is that Hamas won’t have a role in governing Gaza. It will need to be disarmed – and at least a symbolic quantity of its arms should be collected.
The anti-ISIS war, which freed Mosul from ISIS, can point a way forward. Remove Hamas and let the civilians begin to rebuild lives, as happened in Mosul.
Many challenges remain. It is clear that recent reports are aimed at spotlighting Gaza. Hamas has its messaging, and it wants to stir the pot and confuse everyone by obfuscating whether it will give up the power that it was never supposed to have.