Israel says Hamas Gaza admin dissolution aims to avoid disarmament

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Hamas of dissolving its Gaza administration as a strategic move to evade disarmament and preserve its military grip on the territory. Saar stated on his X account that Hamas seeks to emulate the Hezbollah model, where a technocratic government manages public services while the militant group keeps control of its weapons.

"As long as Hamas retains its weapons, any civilian government will operate according to its dictates," Saar wrote, adding that this scenario would allow the group to "continue oppressing the Palestinian people in Gaza." He noted that over 73,100 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire in the past three years.

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While Hamas retains its weapons, any civilian government will operate according to its dictates. This scenario will allow the group to continue oppressing the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Saar emphasized that Israel demands the "complete implementation of the plan" proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which includes the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian factions, as well as the "complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip."

This announcement followed Ismail Al Thawabta, director of the Gaza government's media office, declaring the dissolution of the emergency executive with which Hamas had governed the Strip since October 7, 2023. Al Thawabta's statement did not mention the group's armed wing. The decision has been met with suspicion from the U.S. Peace Board and Israeli media, who view it as a symbolic act with little practical effect. The Peace Board stated that their evaluation would depend on "concrete actions, not promises, to meet the basic needs of the people of Gaza."

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We have taken note of today's announcement regarding the dissolution of the Emergency Committee in Gaza. Ultimately, our evaluation will be based on concrete actions, not promises, to meet the basic needs of the people of Gaza.