Who Controls the Gaza Strip in 2026?
The Gaza Strip remains one of the most contested territories in the world. Since the Israel–Hamas ceasefire framework announced in Sharm El Sheikh on 13 October 2025, Gaza has been governed under a transitional arrangement in which Hamas retains de facto internal control in most of the territory, while a wider post-war architecture — a Palestinian technocratic committee, an international stabilisation force, and ongoing mediation by Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Turkey — defines security arrangements, aid flows and the phased return of Palestinian Authority (PA) administration. No single head of state governs Gaza.
The population of the Strip is roughly 2.1 million (post-war estimates are uncertain given displacement and casualties). Israel maintains a security perimeter and controls all land crossings except Rafah (administered jointly with Egypt). UN OCHA and the WHO continue to operate throughout Gaza under the ceasefire framework.
Hamas in Gaza: Izz al-Din al-Haddad and the temporary committee
Hamas has undergone an extraordinary leadership churn since 7 October 2023. Political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on 31 July 2024. Yahya Sinwar — Hamas’s Gaza leader and architect of the October 7 attack — was killed by Israeli forces in Rafah on 16 October 2024 and subsequently elected posthumously to the political-bureau chairmanship. His younger brother Mohammed Sinwar reportedly led Hamas inside Gaza until May 2025, when Israeli strikes claimed his death. As of 2026, the Hamas Political Bureau is run by a temporary committee; the Shura Council is chaired by Muhammad Ismail Darwish, and Izz al-Din al-Haddad — a veteran Al-Qassam Brigades commander — serves as both Hamas’s leader inside Gaza and its top military commander.
The October 2025 ceasefire and post-war governance
The Sharm El Sheikh framework, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Turkey on 13 October 2025, ended the main phase of combat and established a phased transition. Under the agreement, Hamas released the remaining living Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners; Israel withdrew combat forces to a security perimeter. A 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee of Gazan professionals — not formally affiliated with either Hamas or Fatah — has been tasked with running day-to-day services, reconstruction, and aid distribution. An International Stabilisation Force (ISF), drawn from Arab and Muslim-majority states, has deployed to oversee policing and the phased demilitarisation of armed groups.
The Palestinian Authority’s role
The Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah and chaired by Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to assume administrative responsibility for Gaza in later phases of the Sharm El Sheikh framework, conditioned on PA reforms and the disarmament of Hamas’s military wing. PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has led technical preparatory missions. The 2007 political schism — when Hamas took control of Gaza after winning the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections and defeating Fatah forces — has never been formally reconciled.
Humanitarian and legal dimensions
The 2023–2025 war was the deadliest episode in Gaza’s modern history. Gaza Ministry of Health figures place Palestinian deaths at more than 60,000, with UN-verified estimates broadly consistent. The International Court of Justice in January 2024 ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza; in November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and for three Hamas leaders (Sinwar, Deif, Haniyeh — all since reported killed). Reconstruction cost estimates exceed \$80 billion.
| De facto leader in Gaza | Izz al-Din al-Haddad (Hamas Gaza leader & military commander) |
|---|---|
| Hamas Political Bureau | Run by a temporary committee; deputy chairmanship vacant |
| Hamas Shura Council chair | Muhammad Ismail Darwish |
| Civilian administration | Palestinian technocratic committee (15 members, since Oct 2025) |
| Palestinian Authority | President Mahmoud Abbas · PM Mohammad Mustafa |
| Ceasefire framework | Sharm El Sheikh agreement, 13 October 2025 |
| Guarantors | United States, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey |
| Population | ~2.1 million (post-war estimate) |
| Territory | 365 km² coastal strip on the Mediterranean |
| Status | Part of the State of Palestine (recognized by ~146 UN states) |
Frequently asked questions
Who is the leader of the Gaza Strip in 2026?
There is no single head of state. Hamas — led inside Gaza by Izz al-Din al-Haddad — retains de facto internal control, while a Palestinian technocratic committee manages day-to-day services and aid under the October 2025 Sharm El Sheikh ceasefire framework.
Who is the current leader of Hamas?
The Hamas Political Bureau has been run by a temporary committee since 2024. Muhammad Ismail Darwish chairs the Shura Council. Izz al-Din al-Haddad leads Hamas in Gaza and commands the Al-Qassam Brigades. Yahya Sinwar (killed October 2024) and Ismail Haniyeh (killed July 2024) were the most recent named chairmen.
Is the Gaza war over?
A ceasefire agreed in Sharm El Sheikh on 13 October 2025 ended the main phase of fighting. Israeli combat forces have withdrawn to a security perimeter. Implementation — including hostage and prisoner releases, Hamas demilitarisation, and a phased Palestinian Authority return — remains ongoing and contested.
Does the Palestinian Authority control Gaza?
Not at present. The Palestinian Authority lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007. Under the 2025 framework, PA administration is expected to return in later phases, conditioned on PA reforms and the disarmament of Hamas’s military wing.
Who mediated the Gaza ceasefire?
Egypt, Qatar, the United States, and Turkey jointly mediated. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and U.S. President Donald Trump co-hosted the October 2025 Sharm El Sheikh summit.
How many people have died in Gaza?
Gaza Ministry of Health figures cite more than 60,000 Palestinian deaths as of early 2026 — broadly consistent with UN-verified estimates. Israel’s death toll stands at roughly 1,200 killed in the 7 October 2023 attack plus around 400 soldiers killed in the subsequent ground war.
Is Gaza a country?
No. Gaza is part of the State of Palestine, which is recognized by approximately 146 UN member states. It has no independent government or head of state; rather, it is administered together with the occupied West Bank as a single Palestinian entity — although political control has been split between Hamas (Gaza) and Fatah (West Bank) since 2007.