Hamas Announces Government Restructuring in Gaza Amid US Skepticism Over Disarmament

Hamas's emergency government committee in Gaza has announced a symbolic dissolution, aiming to facilitate the entry of a national technocratic committee into the Gaza Strip. This move is intended to prevent a large-scale Israeli military operation that could reclaim about 30% of the territory still under Hamas control. Recently, Mohammad al-Farra resigned as chairman of Hamas's emergency government committee, and security sources predict the formation of a temporary authority called the "Temporary Authority for Government Services," with al-Farra stepping aside.

Security officials view this restructuring as a superficial gesture designed to appease the United States and the Middle East Quartet, rather than a genuine disarmament or power transfer. According to a security source, Hamas has no intention of relinquishing weapons or destroying its tunnel networks. Al-Farra is expected to hold a press conference to announce Hamas's cooperation with the national committee's entry, portraying a false image of disarmament while Hamas continues to control movement, local authorities, government offices, and security apparatuses throughout Gaza.

The key question remains whether US envoy Nikolay Mladenov will accept Hamas's offer and push the process forward, potentially pressuring Israel to comply, or if Israel will reject the arrangement outright, insisting on Hamas's full disarmament or a resumption of hostilities. Meanwhile, a Hamas source told AFP that the movement has decided to dismantle the government committee and appoint a widely accepted figure to manage the committee's work temporarily until the national committee officially assumes authority.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al Jazeera that this step removes Israel's excuses and prepares the ground for the technocrats' entry, placing responsibility on Arab guarantor states and the US administration to implement the agreement. He emphasized that Hamas has fulfilled its part and now the mediators must pressure all parties to allow the national committee into Gaza.