Gaza Herald_ The decision to dissolve Gaza’s Government Follow-up Committee has renewed discussion about how the territory will be governed in the coming months. Observers see the move as both a political and administrative step intended to complete the transfer of authority to the National Committee for Gaza. At the same time, the committee’s ability to begin its work remains tied to unresolved political and security issues.
On July 6, 2026, Gaza’s Government Media Office announced the dissolution of the Government Follow-up Committee and the resignation of its acting chairman, Mohammad Abdul Khaleq Al-Farra. The announcement said the committee’s powers would be transferred to the National Committee for Gaza, headed by Dr. Ali Shaath.
A Step in a Broader Institutional Process
According to a policy paper published by the Palestinian Center for Political Studies, the decision is part of an institutional process that began with the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 in November 2025. The resolution called for the formation of a technocratic national committee to oversee civilian affairs in the Gaza Strip.
Although the committee has been fully formed since January 2026, it has not yet entered Gaza or begun carrying out its responsibilities.
The paper says the main purpose of dissolving the Government Follow-up Committee is to complete the legal and administrative arrangements required for transferring responsibilities to the National Committee. It also says the move is intended to remove the reasons Israel has cited for preventing the committee from entering Gaza, while reaffirming Hamas’ previously announced position that it will not participate in governing arrangements for the post-war period.
Political Significance Beyond Administration
The analysis says the decision carries political significance beyond its administrative aspects. It argues that Gaza’s authorities have completed the measures that fall within their responsibilities, leaving the next stage of the transition in the hands of international parties and mediators.
According to the paper, further progress now depends on whether the National Committee is allowed to enter Gaza and begin carrying out its duties.
No Administrative or Security Vacuum
The paper emphasizes that dissolving the committee does not mean Palestinian factions are withdrawing from the political scene or that Gaza will face an administrative or security vacuum.
Instead, it describes the move as a reorganization of civilian administration. Government institutions and technical staff are expected to continue providing public services throughout the transition to ensure that essential government functions remain uninterrupted.
Under the transitional arrangements, the heads of government institutions will continue serving in an interim capacity while technical and professional employees remain in their positions until the transfer of authority is completed. Police forces and the Ministry of Interior will also continue performing their regular duties to maintain public order.
Challenges Facing the Transition
According to the analysis, the primary challenge is not a legal one. The National Committee has held a legal mandate since late 2025.
Rather, the report says the main obstacle is the lack of practical authorization allowing the committee to enter Gaza and exercise its responsibilities, making political and security conditions the determining factor in the future of the transition.
The paper also identifies the issue of government employees as one of the most complex challenges. It says the transition will require reorganizing the status of tens of thousands of public sector workers while securing the financial resources needed to pay their salaries amid an ongoing fiscal crisis and the growing needs created by the war.
Regional and International Positions
The report notes that the Israeli government has not issued an official response to the decision. It says Israeli circles have described the move as a political step that does not change Israel’s position regarding the issue of weapons held by Palestinian factions.
The paper also says the Peace Council and the U.S. administration have taken a cautious approach, indicating that their assessment will depend on developments on the ground while emphasizing the principle of one governing authority and one security structure operating under the National Committee.
Meanwhile, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye—the countries that supported the formation of the National Committee—view the decision as another step toward organizing Gaza’s civilian administration. The paper adds that several Palestinian factions have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the committee, although differences remain over the issue of weapons and the management of the next phase.
Two Possible Scenarios
The analysis outlines two possible scenarios for the near future.
The first envisions the National Committee gradually entering Gaza to oversee humanitarian relief and public services while sovereign matters remain outside its mandate.
The second scenario would see the current deadlock continue, leaving the committee unable to enter Gaza while existing government institutions continue managing day-to-day affairs.
The Road Ahead
The paper concludes that dissolving the Government Follow-up Committee marks an important political and administrative step by removing one of the internal obstacles to transferring Gaza’s administration.
However, it says the success of the process will ultimately depend on political and security understandings, including agreements on reopening border crossings, enabling the National Committee to begin its work, and addressing outstanding issues, particularly those related to weapons and the security arrangements accompanying the transitional period.
