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Can Hamas Ever Rule Gaza Again After Three Years of War?
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Firstpost•07-10-2026, 09:05
Can Hamas Ever Rule Gaza Again After Three Years of War?
- •Three years after the October 7 attacks, Hamas's formal military organisation and state-like governance apparatus in Gaza have been effectively dismantled by relentless warfare.
- •The group dissolved its civil administration in July, with leadership shifting to an exiled political bureau under Khalil al-Hayya and its armed wing devolving into decentralized guerrilla cells.
- •Israel, the United States, and key Arab states have enforced an absolute veto on Hamas participating in future governance, blocking the group from securing international reconstruction funds.
- •Public patience within Gaza has shattered due to unprecedented casualties, displacement, and economic devastation, leading to open protests and challenges from local clans against Hamas's authority.
- •Experts warn that while Hamas is unlikely to regain formal control, it may transition into a Hezbollah-style shadow influence using clandestine networks and an underground insurgency.
Key Questions Answered
Hamas announced the total dissolution of its civil administration in Gaza on July 6, 2026, marking the end of its 19-year era as a sovereign state actor in the territory.
Following an internal vote among Shura Council members, Khalil al-Hayya was officially elected as the fifth chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, operating from exile in Doha.
Under UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the US-backed initiative, an international governance framework known as the Board of Peace was established to oversee Gaza's transitional civil administration.
