HAMAS announced the dissolution of the Governmental Emergency Committee — the administration ruling Gaza — on Monday.

Chairman Mohammed Abdul Khaleq al-Farra resigned, saying preparations were complete to hand over to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) — a body of Palestinian “technocrats” appointed by Donald Trump’s Board of Peace and vetted by Israel, in line with the ceasefire deal struck last October.

The outgoing administration said its transfer of power “reflects its commitment to implementing agreements aimed at reorganising governance in Gaza and easing the humanitarian suffering caused by Israel’s ongoing genocide, the delay in reconstruction, the continued blockade, the closure of border crossings, and the continued Israeli military presence in the enclave.”

Israeli troops occupy more than two thirds of Gaza, and its military has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians there since the ceasefire took effect. Israeli forces killed a further six people in Gaza in drone attacks on Monday, as well as at least four in Lebanon. A four-month-old baby died in the occupied West Bank after Israeli soldiers refused his family permission to pass through a military checkpoint to get him to a hospital.

The dissolution of the Governmental Emergency Committee technically ends 19 years of Hamas power in Gaza, since it took over in 2007 following its victory in the 2006 elections.

The announcement called on international guarantors of the ceasefire deal to now facilitate the NCAG’s assumption of governmental powers and press Israel to withdraw its forces.

However, it is unclear what will immediately change. Officials working under the various government departments would continue to do their jobs, the outgoing government said, to prevent a “security vacuum.”

The NCAG has been operating in Egypt, but its officials have been blocked from entering Gaza by Israel up to now. The Board of Peace responded only vaguely to the dissolution announcement, saying it would judge Hamas on actions rather than “promises.” Israel itself called the announcement a “deception,” saying Hamas remained in charge. Israeli ministers have frequently suggested they do not intend to carry out the terms of the October ceasefire.