Hamas to quit governing Gaza under roadmap
Washington, July 31
Hamas has agreed to relinquish both its civilian and military role in governing Gaza under a new internationally backed roadmap that would hand control of the territory to a transitional Palestinian administration as part of a phased peace process, according to senior administration officials.
The proposal, announced by President Donald Trump as part of his Gaza peace initiative, goes beyond a ceasefire by outlining a detailed plan to dismantle Hamas's governing structure. Instead a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, an independent Palestinian body would oversee both civilian administration and internal security during a transitional period.
Senior administration officials said the roadmap represents the first time Hamas has agreed to accept an international framework that requires it to surrender its governing role while allowing a new Palestinian authority to assume responsibility for administering Gaza.
The document states that all civilian and security responsibilities would be transferred to the National Committee, which would become the sole authority responsible for running public institutions, maintaining essential services and enforcing law and order across the Gaza Strip. It also calls for the committee to conduct a comprehensive audit of Gaza's financial and administrative affairs before beginning reconstruction.
Senior administration officials said the committee would operate independently during the transition, with the roadmap specifically prohibiting interference by political factions in its work.
The proposal is built around the principle of "One Authority, One Law, One Weapon," effectively ending the existence of parallel governing and security structures in Gaza. Under the roadmap, the National Committee would become the only body authorised to regulate weapons, issue licences and exercise policing powers.
The roadmap also seeks to prevent instability during the transition by requiring all Palestinian factions to sign a civil peace agreement banning revenge attacks, military parades, armed demonstrations and other actions that could undermine the transfer of authority. Responsibility for responding to internal security incidents would rest exclusively with the National Committee and its police force.
Senior administration officials said the broader objective is to create a technocratic administration capable of governing Gaza independently of both Hamas and existing political rivalries. They said the transitional body would draw on Palestinian professionals from Gaza, the West Bank and the wider diaspora to rebuild public institutions and restore essential services.
The officials said the roadmap also preserves the prospect of a future political role for the Palestinian Authority, but only after it completes reforms envisaged under the broader peace framework. During the transitional period, the National Committee would remain responsible for governing Gaza while maintaining coordination with the Palestinian Authority.
President Trump announced the agreement in a Truth Social post, calling it "a critical step towards Gaza finally being governed by a new Palestinian government that will work closely with the Board of Peace to help the Palestinian people."
He added: "Under this agreement, Gaza will finally be in the hands of a new Palestinian government that serves its PEOPLE."
The governance provisions form one pillar of the broader roadmap, which also includes the phased disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups, deployment of an International Stabilization Force, gradual Israeli withdrawal and an internationally supervised reconstruction programme. Each stage would proceed only after verification that the commitments under the previous phase had been fulfilled.
— IANS
Reader Comments
India has always supported a two-state solution and peace in the region. This seems like a positive step, but the international community needs to ensure that the Palestinian people actually benefit. The transitional committee should have real independence, not just be a puppet of any external power. 🙏
Honestly, I'm skeptical. Hamas agreeing to give up its military role sounds too good to be true. And with Trump announcing it, you have to wonder if this is more about optics than actual peace. The devil is in the details—especially regarding the disarmament timeline and Israeli withdrawal.
As an Indian, I can relate to the complexities of transitional governance—we had our own challenges post-independence. But this roadmap needs to be implemented with genuine international oversight. If it brings peace and rebuilding to Gaza, I'm all for it. The Palestinian people have suffered enough. 🇮🇳
The "Board of Peace" and Trump's involvement worries me—it seems like another meddling attempt by world powers in Middle Eastern affairs. India has always been clear that Palestinian statehood and self-determination are non-negotiable. If this plan genuinely hands power to Palestinians, great. Otherwise, it's just political theater.
Peace is always welcome, but I'm concerned about the exclusion of Hamas from governance while they're expected to disarm. Will the National Committee actually have the capacity to maintain security? It's a fragile situation, and the international stabilisation force should be robust and truly neutral.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.