Full Breakdown
Hamas Dissolves Gaza Government Amid Ongoing Ceasefire Tensions
7/10/2026, 4:44:00 PM
Political Shift and Its Immediate Context
On 7 July 2026 Hamas announced the resignation of its “Emergency Committee” and the transfer of civil authority to the UN-backed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG). The move, presented as compliance with the U.S.-brokered cease-fire signed in October 2025, was framed by Hamas as a “positive step forward on the path to implement the ceasefire deal.” The NCAG, a technocratic body led by Ali Shaath and temporarily based in Cairo, is slated to assume responsibility for health, education, water and policing once a single legal framework and unified security apparatus are in place.
Background & Context
The cease-fire halted large-scale combat but left Israel in control of roughly 60-70 percent of the Strip, well beyond the 53 percent stipulated for the first phase of the Trump-led peace plan. Hamas has repeatedly insisted that Israel fulfill its withdrawal commitments before any disarmament discussion. Meanwhile, the Board of Peace—created by President Donald Trump—has repeatedly warned that it will judge progress “by actions, not promises.”
Humanitarian Data
COGAT’s October 2025–June 2026 report shows that 1.78 million tons of food entered Gaza—over three times the World Food Programme’s needs. Food prices fell ? 72 % between September 2025 and May 2026. Water deliveries exceeded 70,000 cubic meters per day, surpassing international standards. More than 18,000 tons of medicines arrived, and hospital bed capacity rose > 55 %.
Why It Matters
If the NCAG can operate independently, it could restore essential services and create a civilian governance model that limits Hamas’s military influence. However, Israel and the United States continue to demand full disarmament before the second phase of the peace plan proceeds, leaving the political transition stalled and the humanitarian situation precarious.
Official Statements & Responses
- Maj. Gen. Yoram Halevy (COGAT): “Against the backdrop of Hamas' ongoing attempts, together with other actors, to distort the humanitarian picture in the Gaza Strip, we decided to publish this report in order to present the international community with the full factual picture.”
- Ismail al-Thawabta (Hamas Government Media Office): “Only technical and professional staff will remain in their positions to run the Palestinian enclave’s day-to-day affairs.”
- Hazem Qassem (Hamas spokesperson): “A positive step forward on the path to implement the ceasefire deal.”
- Gideon Saar (Israeli Foreign Minister) on X: “As long as Hamas retains its weapons, any civilian government will of course operate as Hamas dictates.”
- Board of Peace (Trump-appointed) on X: “We assess … by actions, not promises, to meet the critical needs of the people of Gaza.”
Criticism & Opposition
Israeli officials dismissed the announcement as “spin without any meaning,” arguing that Hamas uses the move to avoid disarmament. Palestinian sources note that the NCAG remains barred from entering Gaza, effectively leaving Hamas as the de-facto authority. Analysts such as Muhammad Shehada (European Council on Foreign Relations) contend the timing is intended to pressure the United States and portray Israel as the primary obstacle to the Trump plan.
On-the-Ground Reports
Despite the political shift, civilian casualties continue. Middle East Eye documented multiple killings in June 2026, including the death of Khalil al-Masri (shot near a sweet shop) and the killing of 13-year-old Amir al-Bashiti inside a “safe” tent in Khan Younis. The outlet reported that, since the cease-fire began on 10 October 2025, at least 1,072 Palestinians have been killed and 3,463 wounded, a figure echoed by Al Jazeera’s health ministry data.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
COGAT’s assessment declares “humanitarian stability” while independent observers describe ongoing “humanitarian purgatory.” The UN’s OCHA notes a surge in chickenpox cases, indicating deteriorating public-health conditions despite abundant aid. No source confirms whether Hamas has relinquished any weapons, and Israel’s exact control percentage varies between 60 % and 70 % across reports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The data are clear and leave no room for doubt: throughout the ceasefire, humanitarian stability was maintained in the Gaza Strip, and the volume of aid entering the territory significantly exceeded humanitarian requirements.” — Maj. Gen. Yoram Halevy, COGAT
- “We hope that this important step on the ground will help bring an end to the aggression, stop the genocide, secure the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, reopen the crossings to allow the entry of aid trucks and end the policy of starvation,” — Ismail al-Thawabta, Hamas Government Media Office
- “Whoever calls this a ceasefire is overlooking what is actually happening on the ground. It is not a ceasefire, it is continued fire,” — Emad al-Bashiti, Gaza resident
- “We call on all concerned and relevant parties to immediately accelerate the steps for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) to enter quickly and assume its national and administrative duties and responsibilities, in order to strengthen the steadfastness of our noble Palestinian people and heal their wounds,” — Hamas statement, 7 July 2026
What’s Next
The Board of Peace has said it will monitor the NCAG’s ability to assume authority, but no concrete timeline for Israeli withdrawal or Hamas disarmament has been announced. Negotiations over the second phase of the cease-fire—centered on weapons consolidation and full Israeli pull-back—remain deadlocked.
