Hamas Announces Handover of Civilian Power in Gaza to US-Backed NCAG Administration

Cairo/Washington — Six months after its formation under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) remains stuck in Cairo, unable to enter the territory and assume governance responsibilities, even as Hamas announced Monday the dissolution of its de facto civilian governing body.

NCAG Chair Ali Shaath stated on social media Monday that the committee is “fully prepared to assume its national responsibilities as soon as the necessary resources and capabilities are available.”

The development comes against the backdrop of a fragile October 2025 ceasefire and Phase Two negotiations that have deadlocked over core issues of security and control. Hamas has signaled willingness to transfer civilian administrative functions but has repeatedly made clear it will not relinquish its arms while Israel maintains direct control over more than 60% of Gaza, continues what the group describes as ceasefire violations, and supports certain Palestinian paramilitary elements inside the territory.

In a May report to the UN Security Council, Trump-appointed High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov attributed the impasse in the peace process primarily to Hamas.

Mladenov, serving as the key liaison for the Board of Peace (BoP) established under President Trump’s plan, has faced criticism from various quarters for perceived lack of impartiality, particularly in not sufficiently addressing Israeli actions in the ongoing environment.

The Board of Peace responded to Hamas’s Monday announcement in measured terms, stating only that it had “taken note” of the move.

“Ultimately, our assessment will be guided by actions, not promises, to meet the critical needs of the people of Gaza,” the Board said via its social media account.

It reiterated a foundational principle: “The core principle remains one authority, one law and one weapon. This means the consolidation of all weapons under the control of the NCAG.”

The NCAG, a technocratic body of Palestinian professionals announced in mid-January 2026, was intended to handle day-to-day civil administration, reconstruction, and humanitarian efforts under international oversight from the Board of Peace. Its members have operated from Cairo since formation, with entry into Gaza blocked amid disputes over security arrangements, funding, and the broader disarmament timeline.

U.S. officials and supporters of the Trump plan have emphasized the need for verifiable steps toward demilitarization and unified authority as prerequisites for full reconstruction funding and Israeli withdrawals. Critics, including some Palestinian voices and international observers, argue the process has been hampered by mutual violations, territorial changes on the ground, and insufficient leverage to compel compliance from all parties.

Hamas’s dissolution of its Emergency Committee is viewed by some as a limited concession on the civilian side while preserving its military capabilities — a position that falls short of the full transition envisioned in the ceasefire roadmap. Israeli officials have described such moves as insufficient without concrete disarmament.

As the NCAG waits in Cairo, the humanitarian and reconstruction needs in Gaza continue to mount, with the Board of Peace underscoring that progress will depend on deeds rather than declarations. The coming weeks are expected to test whether Monday’s announcement represents a genuine step forward or another tactical maneuver in the protracted standoff.

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