While Hamas continues to accuse the consensus government in Ramallah of failing to fulfill its responsibilities toward Gaza, the Palestinian Authority (PA) maintains its position that Hamas is impeding it from performing its duties in the enclave. Amid still-tense relations, news leaked on March 10 of Hamas forming an administrative committee to manage Gaza. Five days later, on March 16, Hamas members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in Gaza officially announced the formation of a committee to manage government institutions there. Headed by Abdel Salam Siam, former secretary-general of Hamas' Council of Ministers in Gaza, the committee consists of seven officials, each assigned to oversee the work of a ministry and in some cases additional institutions.
Salah al-Bardawil, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told Al-Monitor, “Hamas has not formed a substitute government to replace the consensus government. A governmental administrative committee was formed, not an actual government. [The committee] aims to organize the work of state institutions, and any minister from Ramallah is welcome to come to Gaza and do his job, and the committee will be at his service.”
Considering that the committee was formed without consulting the PA and therefore technically does not fall under its jurisdiction, Bardawil is perhaps trying to reassure the PA that the committee members are ready to assist PA ministers in the consensus government.
Ahmed Majdalani, secretary-general of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front and a member of the PLO’s Executive Committee, told Al-Monitor, “Forming an administrative committee to manage Gaza is a political decision made by Hamas’ new leadership that was elected in February. Through this committee, some Hamas PLC blocs aim to provide legal cover to the work of the Hamas-affiliated de facto government that has been exercising the powers of the consensus government. This also shows that Hamas has abandoned the 2014 Beach refugee camp agreement for reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas as well as demonstrates how the Hamas government has turned division into separation in preparation for engaging in regional projects regarding the State of Gaza.”
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