Is Hamas prepping for a 'State of Gaza'?

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.”