(C) The Economist

ISTANBUL – The Palestinian militant group Hamas has announced its intention to transfer governance of the Gaza Strip to an entity established under the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, AFP reported on the 28th (local time).

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem stated in an interview with AFP, "All drafts and data necessary for the transition are ready, and a committee to oversee the transfer has been formed. We will completely hand over governance in all sectors of the Gaza Strip to the committee of experts." Qassem added that since the ceasefire with Israel under Phase 1 of Trump’s "Gaza Peace Initiative" last October, Hamas has fulfilled all requirements and is "ready to commence all procedures for Phase 2."

This move is seen as a gesture of respect toward the National Council for Administrative Governance (NCAG), which was recently formed to oversee Gaza’s transitional governance. The NCAG is a technocratic body aimed at demilitarization and reconstruction, handling daily public services. It operates under the supervision of the Peace Committee, chaired directly by President Trump.

On the 26th, Hamas provided location data that helped the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recover the body of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage remaining in Gaza. In response, President Trump praised Hamas's cooperation but noted, "Now they must disarm as promised." Disarmament remains a core condition of Phase 2 but has yet to be implemented.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Hamas is pushing to integrate approximately 40,000 civil servants and police officers from its Gaza administration into the NCAG. Specifically, Hamas seeks to incorporate about 10,000 of its police forces into the new body—a move likely to face strong opposition from Israel, which demands complete disarmament.

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