The government's emergency committee in Gaza has resigned, paving the way for the transfer of the sector's administration to the National Committee. Hamas says the move is serious

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem (left) and the director of the government media office in Gaza, Ismail al-Thawabta, give a press statement in front of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah

The government emergency committee in the Gaza Strip announced on Sunday the resignation of its chairman and acting head of government work follow-up, Muhammad Hashim Al-Farra, and the official dissolution of the committee before the transfer of the sector’s administration to the national committee.

As part of the new arrangements, Dr. Abdul Hadi Saeed Al-Agha was assigned to manage the interim body and supervise its work during the transitional phase. He is an academic and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs.

The move paves the way for transferring the administration of governance in the sector to the "National Committee for the Administration of Gaza," confirming the completion of all necessary administrative and legal arrangements for the handover process, and the continued provision of services to citizens during the transitional phase.

The Government Media Office said in a statement that the government authorities in the Gaza Strip had repeatedly announced during the past period their full readiness to hand over the administration of governance to the National Committee, noting that this resignation represents a practical translation of that commitment, and aims to pave the way for the achievement of a "national entitlement" related to organizing the internal Palestinian house.

The statement explained that the administrative and legal preparations for the handover process have been fully completed and have been officially presented to the national team representing the Palestinian factions and forces, the Supreme Committee of Clans and Tribes, and civil society institutions, in the presence of an observer representative from the United Nations.

The media office confirmed that Mohammed Hashem Al-Farra had officially submitted his resignation from the chairmanship of the Government Emergency Committee and the acting chairmanship of the Government Work Follow-up Committee. It was also decided to dissolve the Government Emergency Committee, within the framework of implementing the understandings and facilitating the administrative transfer process to the National Committee for the Management of Gaza.

The statement stressed that the employees who will continue their work during the next phase are only technical and professional staff, with the aim of ensuring the continuity of basic services and preventing any administrative or technical vacuum that could negatively affect citizens.

For his part, the head of the National Committee for the Management of the Gaza Strip affirmed that the committee is fully prepared to assume its responsibilities as soon as the necessary requirements for its work are provided, noting that the success of its mission requires the existence of one authority, one law, and a clear reference, in addition to one weapon that is subject to this authority, in order to provide the appropriate political, administrative, and security environment to enable it to perform its tasks.

In his first comment following the announcement of his resignation, Mohammed Hashem Al-Farra said that his decision came after ensuring that all procedures for handing over governmental work responsibilities were completed in an organized manner, adding that "Gaza is bigger than my presence, and it deserves, with the sacrifices it has made, that we provide it with everything that helps it overcome its wounds and ordeals."

Al-Farra explained that his resignation was intended to pave the way for the National Committee to begin its work.

The Government Oversight Committee functioned as the de facto government in Gaza under Hamas leadership for nearly two decades. In January, the second phase of the US-brokered peace agreement was approved, establishing the technocratic National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), but its implementation has stalled due to the disarmament of Hamas and Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

In a joint statement, Palestinian resistance factions welcomed the resignation of the government's emergency committee, considering it a reflection of the seriousness in making the process of organizing the internal Palestinian house a success and transferring the administration of the Gaza Strip to the national committee.

For its part, Hamas confirmed that the resignation decision is "serious and is being implemented on the ground," in response to Israeli skepticism about the move.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that the occupation is "spreading lies," stressing that the resignation of the government action committee represents a step forward in implementing the ceasefire agreement and contributes to removing the pretexts used by Israel to obstruct the entry of the national committee into the Gaza Strip.