Palestinians in Gaza: Stuck between Hamas and Israel

Despite recent announcements by Hamas regarding the dissolution of its civilian administration, life in Gaza continues largely unchanged for many residents, who remain dependent on the very institutions the group once controlled. According to reports from Gazans, essential services such as obtaining academic credentials or medical referrals are still handled by Hamas-run entities, even though the group had previously agreed to step down from administrative roles under a U.S.-brokered peace deal set to take effect in 2025. Eyad Saleh, a 19-year-old resident of Gaza City, recently visited government offices to retrieve a lost university diploma, a crucial step toward securing a scholarship abroad. “There’s nowhere else to go in Gaza except the institutions run by Hamas,” Saleh explained. “The only entity providing services to residents is the same body that was in place before the war, with the same employees.” His experience reflects the reality faced by many Gazans who rely on Hamas-controlled infrastructure despite ongoing geopolitical shifts. Similarly, Na'ama Saeed, a 39-year-old woman suffering from a chronic illness, sought assistance from the Health Ministry to obtain a medical referral document. She emphasized that the Ministry of Health remains the sole authority in Gaza capable of issuing such critical documents. “If there were another official body we could turn to without dealing with the current government, we would not hesitate,” Saeed stated, underscoring the lack of viable alternatives for Gazans seeking basic administrative services. Efforts to establish a new administration in Gaza have encountered significant obstacles. In October 2025, the U.S. peace plan introduced the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), a transitional body composed of Palestinian experts supervised by the Board of Peace. This initiative was spearheaded by former U.S. President Donald Trump and aimed to create a more neutral governance structure. However, the NCAG’s 15 members have remained stuck in Cairo, waiting for Israel’s approval to enter Gaza and assume their roles. Ghassan Khatib, a lecturer in international politics at Bir Zeit University, noted the stagnation of these efforts. “There is no change, nobody is stepping in to take over,” he said. He pointed out that neither the Americans nor the Israelis seem eager to see the transition proceed, and the Palestinian Authority lacks the capacity to intervene due to restrictions imposed by both Israel and the United States. Hamas has maintained its grip on approximately 30% of Gaza, despite Israel’s military operations following the October 7, 2023, attacks. These actions led to widespread displacement and destruction across the region, with estimates suggesting nearly two million people were affected. While Israel claims to be targeting Hamas specifically, the group remains in power in certain areas, with Israeli forces occupying the remaining 70% of the territory, particularly along the Mediterranean Sea. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refers to this division as a buffer zone designed to prevent future attacks by Palestinian militants. Meanwhile, the ceasefire process has hit a standstill, with both sides accusing each other of violating agreements. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, over 1,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli airstrikes since the ceasefire in October 2025. A central point of contention remains the decommissioning of Hamas’ weapons. The group has refused to surrender arms unless Israel ceases its attacks on Gaza and withdraws its forces. Ibrahim al-Madhoun, a Gazan political analyst affiliated with Hamas and based in Turkey, highlighted this stance. “Hamas knows that Israel wants the weapons to be surrendered, but Hamas will not raise the white flag and will not give up completely,” he said. Al-Madhoun also suggested that Hamas’s decision to dissolve its civilian administration might be an effort to ease tensions, particularly after failed negotiations in Cairo involving UN officials. Despite these gestures, the situation on the ground shows little sign of improvement, leaving Gazans caught between conflicting powers with few options for relief.