Hamas has announced its intention to hand over governing authority in the Gaza Strip to an interim administration, marking a significant shift after two decades of control.
The militant group invited the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a US-backed body, to take over running the territory.
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However, the announcement did not include a promise to disarm unilaterally, a key demand from Israel and the United States.
The immediate impact on the partially observed ceasefire remains uncertain.
The NCAG has been blocked from entering Gaza by Israel since its creation in January as part of a US-brokered ceasefire.
Analysts view the declaration as a symbolic move aimed at reviving a stalled peace process.
The blockade has hindered reconstruction and humanitarian relief for Gaza's surviving population of 2.1 million.
The decision also counters Israeli-led proposals, backed by the Trump administration, to limit reconstruction to purpose-built villages covering about 60% of Gaza under direct Israeli army control, referred to as a "humanitarian city" or "New Rafah."
Leadership Resignation and Stalled Transition
Mohammed al-Farra, the head of the Hamas administration, announced his resignation alongside the power handover.
He stated that civil servants and public workers would remain in their roles pending the NCAG's arrival.
"After I have ensured that all necessary preparations have been completed for the handover of the governmental system in the Gaza Strip, I hereby tender my resignation," al-Farra wrote.
