Hamas Tightens Grip in Gaza as Trump Pushes Peace Plan

The militant group is placing loyalists in key government roles and collecting taxes, raising doubts about the prospects of the U.S. president's proposal.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Hamas is cementing its hold over Gaza by placing loyalists in key government roles, collecting taxes, and paying salaries, according to an Israeli military assessment. This has fueled widespread skepticism about the prospects of U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan, which requires Hamas to give up its weapons in exchange for an Israeli military withdrawal from the territory. The U.S. is holding the inaugural meeting of its international Board of Peace, which is meant to supervise Gaza's transitional governance, but Hamas says it is ready to hand over administration of the enclave to a U.S.-backed committee of Palestinian technocrats, though Israel has not yet allowed the committee members to enter Gaza.

Why it matters

Hamas' continuing influence over key Gaza power structures raises doubts about the feasibility of Trump's peace plan, which hinges on the militant group disarming and relinquishing control. The group's efforts to cement its grip on Gaza could undermine the U.S.-backed transition plan and complicate efforts to resolve the long-standing conflict.

The details

According to the Israeli military assessment, Hamas has named five district governors with links to its armed al-Qassam Brigades, and has replaced senior officials in Gaza's economy and interior ministries, which manage taxation and security. Hamas has also continued to pay salaries to public servants and fighters, which average around 1,500 shekels (around $500) a month. The group has been collecting taxes mainly from the private sector, including fees levied on Gaza merchants bringing in smuggled goods such as cigarettes, batteries, solar panels, and mobile phones.

  • The Israeli military assessment was presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late January 2026.
  • The U.S. Board of Peace is holding its inaugural meeting in Washington on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Hamas

A Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist, terrorist, and nationalist organization. Hamas has been the de facto governing authority in the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who is pushing a peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The prime minister of Israel.

Ali Shaath

A former Palestinian Authority official in the occupied West Bank who is heading a U.S.-backed committee of Palestinian technocrats meant to oversee Gaza's transitional governance.

Ismail al-Thawabta

The director of the Hamas-controlled government's media office in Gaza.

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What they’re saying

“The organisational measures taken during the past period were necessary to prevent the collapse of the service system and do not conflict with any future arrangements agreed upon.”

— Ismail al-Thawabta, Director of the Hamas-controlled government's media office (Reuters)

“Every moment of delay in allowing the technocratic committee to enter the Gaza Strip leads to the imposition of a de facto reality, increasing the administrative and security control of the Hamas government in Gaza.”

— Reham Owda, Palestinian political analyst (Reuters)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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