Hamas says it will dissolve Gaza governing body as Iran mourns Khamenei
Hamas announced a shift in Gaza’s civilian administration as Israel kept striking the enclave and Iran held funeral rites for Ali Khamenei.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Hamas said it is dissolving its civilian administration in Gaza and transferring duties to a new National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. The announcement could reshape post-war planning for the enclave, even as Israeli attacks continued.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, said Hamas has governed Gaza for nearly 20 years. He said the proposal leaves key issues unresolved, including how the committee would be chosen, who would supervise it and whether it could win public and international backing.
Medical sources told Al Jazeera that Israeli attacks across Gaza on Monday killed at least six Palestinians and wounded 20 others. Mahmoud reported that a husband and wife were among those killed when an Israeli rocket hit their apartment building.
Al Jazeera said the Hamas move may indicate a willingness to step back from direct civilian rule. Mahmoud reported that whether it becomes a real transfer of authority will depend on ceasefire talks and on political agreement over who governs Gaza after the fighting.
Iran holds funeral rites for Khamenei
Iran held major mourning ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose body arrived in Qom after a funeral procession in Tehran, Al Jazeera reported. The outlet said hundreds of thousands of people took part in the Tehran procession.
Al Jazeera reported that Khamenei’s coffin was carried through the capital during six days of official mourning. His burial is expected Thursday in Mashhad, his hometown, according to Al Jazeera.
A Reuters image published by Al Jazeera showed a vehicle carrying the coffins of Khamenei and members of his family during the Tehran procession. The caption said Khamenei was killed on February 28 in Israeli and U.S. airstrikes.
Tanker hit off Oman
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker reported a fire after an unknown projectile struck it off Oman. UKMTO said the incident happened 8 nautical miles east of Limah while the vessel was traveling south.
The agency said the projectile hit the tanker’s port side. UKMTO reported no casualties or environmental impact and said authorities were investigating.
Other regional developments
Al Jazeera reported that Israeli forces continued attacks in southern Lebanon despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, killing at least four people near Nabatieh. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said Israeli forces were preventing the Lebanese army from deploying in southern areas, according to Al Jazeera.
Aoun also said continuing attacks were keeping more than 600,000 people from returning home, Al Jazeera reported. A United Nations human rights body called Israel’s detention of Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safiya arbitrary and demanded his immediate release, according to the outlet.
In London, Palestinian Foreign Minister Farsin Aghabekian Shahin met British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and pressed the UK to take stronger action against Israel over the occupied Palestinian territories, Al Jazeera reported. Shahin welcomed Britain’s recognition of Palestine but said further steps were needed, including sanctions on Israeli settlements and restrictions on settlement goods entering British markets.
Shahin also raised concerns about East Jerusalem and briefed Cooper on Palestinian reform plans, including parliamentary elections planned for November and a presidential vote expected early next year, according to Al Jazeera.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.