Hamas has announced that it will hand over power in Gaza to a new technical administration. 

This had been agreed to by the Board of Peace, which has been overseeing the implementation of last year's ceasefire agreement between the militants and the Israeli government.

Hamas, classified by multiple countries as a terrorist organization, has governed the Gaza Strip for nearly 20 years, since region-wide elections were last held in 2006.

The Gaza Strip is considered occupied under international law as Israel continued to control all borders even after it withdrew its settlements and soldiers in 2005. Since the beginning of the Israeli ground invasion following the October 7 terrorist attacks in 2023, Israeli soldiers have been back in Gaza.

What did Hamas officials say?

"The head of the government's emergency committee Mohammed al-Farra has officially submitted his resignation," said Ismail al-Thawabta, a Hamas media spokesman, to French news agency AFP.

"He has also decided to dissolve the committee to facilitate the administrative and governmental transition to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG)."

The NCAG was established by US President Donald Trump as part of the peace deal between Hamas and Israel signed last year and partly brokered by the United States.

There were no immediate details on when and how the handover would take place, as Israel has reportedly blocked NCAG members from entering Gaza for months.

The Israeli government and Hamas remain at odds over certain measures in their peace agreement, including the complete disarmament of the militant organization and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory.

Israel has also been accused of blocking the delivery of much-needed aid to Gaza over these sicking points.

NCAG says it is ready to govern

"We affirm that the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza is fully prepared to assume its national responsibilities as soon as the necessary resources and capabilities are available," committee chief Ali Shaath wrote on X.

"The fundamental requirements for the committee's success are a single authority, a single law with a clear mandate, and a single armed force under the authority of this single entity."

Trump's Board of Peace said it had taken note of the Hamas announcement, adding that it must ensure that all of its weapons are also handed over to the NCAG.

Edited by: Kieran Burke

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