PA officials: ‘Hamas will still rule Gaza; don’t believe the lies’

Palestinian Authority sources described Hamas’ announcement as a tactical effort to satisfy ceasefire requirements without relinquishing power.

By World Israel News Staff

Palestinian Authority officials are expressing skepticism over Hamas’ announcement that it intends to dissolve its governing administration in the Gaza Strip, arguing that the move is a tactical maneuver designed to preserve the terrorist group’s influence while complying with the terms of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Hamas, which has exercised de facto control over Gaza since seizing the territory from the Palestinian Authority in a violent coup in 2007, recently announced that it would dissolve its government as part of efforts to implement the Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Under the framework of the agreement, Hamas is expected to relinquish governing authority to facilitate Gaza’s reconstruction and increase international involvement in rebuilding the war-ravaged enclave.

However, Palestinian Authority officials told The Jerusalem Post that they do not believe Hamas intends to surrender its control over Gaza.

Hamas’ move to claim it is relinquishing power is intended “to show that they are not the ones impeding the [peace] process,” an official said.

The terror group is interested in buying “more time, hoping that future circumstances may work to their advantage, possibly as a result of developments between Iran and the United States that could also benefit Gaza,” the source added.

The official said he believes Hamas has no intention of surrendering the weapons that provide it with effective military control over the territory, regardless of whether civilian administrative responsibilities are transferred to a new Palestinian technocratic committee that would include Palestinian Authority representatives.

“Hamas wants its members to be allowed to carry weapons in a way that appears legal under the framework of the new technocratic committee, while in reality, it would continue to guide their actions,” the official added.

A second Palestinian Authority official similarly questioned Hamas’ intentions, arguing that Hamas aims to “secure financial support, knowing that the organization cannot obtain funding or international backing because it lacks legitimacy.”

He continued: “The new technocratic Palestinian committee is recognized as legitimate, so Hamas is trying to use this arrangement to rebuild its infrastructure and embolden itself in the future.”