In a statement issued on Monday, the Government Media Office in Gaza said Head of the Government Emergency Committee Mohammad Jawad Al-Farra had submitted his resignation and that the committee had been formally dissolved as part of preparations to transfer the territory's administrative responsibilities to the NCAG.

Al-Farra, who also served as acting head of the Government Follow-up Committee, resigned to demonstrate his commitment to the transition process and facilitate the implementation of national agreements, the statement said.

Speaking at a press conference in Gaza City, Ismail Al-Thawabta, head of the Government Media Office, said all administrative and legal arrangements for the transfer of authority had been completed.

Al-Thawabta added that the process had been presented transparently to Palestinian factions, national political forces, the Higher Council of Clans, civil society organizations, and a United Nations representative serving as an observer.

According to the statement, government employees remaining in their posts are technical and professional staff whose continued service is intended to prevent any administrative vacuum that could disrupt the delivery of public services

It added that the employees are "state employees" prepared to work under the authority and directives of the new National Committee, in line with a roadmap agreed during talks in Cairo.

The Government Media Office called on all relevant parties to expedite the entry of the NCAG into the Gaza Strip so it can immediately assume its responsibilities, saying the move is needed to help alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis caused by the Israeli war, delays in reconstruction, the continuing blockade, and the closure of border crossings.

'Removing Israel's pretexts'

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told Asharq that the decision to dissolve the Hamas-led governing body was intended to "remove Israel's pretexts," accusing Israel of continuing its "war of extermination."

Qassem expressed hope that the NCAG would be allowed to enter the territory without delay.

He stated that Hamas had informed mediators and other relevant parties of the decision, stressing that the movement was fully prepared to transfer governmental responsibilities to the National Committee and support its work.

Qassem added that the move had been coordinated with mediators and called on guarantors, mediators, and what he referred to as the "Peace Council" to pressure Israel to allow the committee to enter Gaza so it could assume its duties and implement relief, recovery, and reconstruction programmes.

The move marks a significant political shift by Hamas, which has governed Gaza since seizing control of the territory from rival Palestinian movement Fatah in 2007 following the Palestinian legislative elections.

Since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in Gaza last October, the resistance group has repeatedly said it is prepared to step aside from day-to-day governance. However, the issue of its disarmament remained unresolved.

The NCAG, headed by Palestinian official Ali Shaath, was established by the Board of Peace, which was set up by US President Donald Trump after brokering the ceasefire.

However, the committee has remained based outside Gaza for months because of Israeli objections to its entry into the war-devastated territory.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions have held several rounds of talks in Cairo with mediators to narrow differences, particularly over the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire.

The transition to the second phase, which was expected to include a gradual and full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, has stalled for months. Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces have expanded their presence in the Palestinian territory, taking control of nearly 70 percent of Gaza.

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