Hamas government of October 2016

The Hamas government of October 2016 is a faction of the Palestinian government based in Gaza and is effectively the third Hamas dominated government in the Gaza Strip since the takeover of Gaza by Hamas. On October 17, 2016 Supreme Administrative Committee, which is in the process of building progressive ministries in Gaza,[3] reshuffles active ministries and repositions of 16 ministers and director generals in government institutions.[4] The government in Gaza is composed of ministers, governors-general and other high-level officials linked directly to the Ramallah administration. Initially, it was speculated that the formation of the Hamas government in 2016 was an attempt by Ismail Haniya to return to full Hamas control of Gaza.[4] As part of government reform, it was decided to expand the Ministry of Planning.[4] The United States, Canada, the European Union, Japan and Israel classify Hamas as a state institution in Gaza associated with the PLO government and recognize the PLO government as the legitimate government of Gaza territory. The Hamas government is recognized by the Palestine State Administration in Ramallah.

Hamas Government of October 2016
Date formed17 October 2016
People and organisations
Head of stateMahmoud Abbas (recognized by the government in Gaza)
Head of governmentIsmail Haniyeh (until 2017)
Yahya Sinwar (since 2017)[1][2]
No. of ministers16
Total no. of members16
Member partyHamas
Status in legislatureDominated by Hamas members
History
PredecessorThird Hamdallah Government
Politics of Palestine
Officeholders whose status is disputed are shown in italics

Arab League Member state of the Arab League

Government
National symbols
Legislative Council
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
flag Palestine portal

According to some views, the third Hamas cabinet de facto succeeded the failed 2014 Unity Government, which was reshuffled by Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in July 2015 without Hamas consent and was announced by Hamas as expired on 19 October 2016. "Coalition for Accountability and Integrity - Aman" said that the formation of this committee was a declaration of a new government in the Gaza Strip.[4] Youssef Mahmoud, the spokesman for the consensus Palestinian government, said that every action made in Gaza without the consensus government's approval is illegitimate and not recognized by the Ramallah government.[4] Ismail Haniyeh, the Prime Minister of the 2007 and 2012 Hamas-led governments, considers the 2015 Fatah-dominated government in Ramallah as illegitimate. The Hamas government of 2016 exercises de facto rule over the Gaza Strip, supported by the Palestinian Legislative Council, which is dominated by members of Hamas.

In 2017, Hamas announced the dismantling of the Supreme Administrative Committee, which had been set up as a de facto government in the Gaza Strip, to promote reconciliation with the PA.[5] In February 2017, Yahya Sinwar took over from Ismail Haniyeh[6] as leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.[1][2]

On 14 June 2021, Hamas announced that Issam al-Da’alis was the new prime minister of the Hamas government in Gaza, succeeding Mohammed Awad who resigned after two years in the position. The Palestinian Authority previously expressed opposition to the formation of a Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.

Formation

A Unity Government was formed on 2 June 2014, following the Fatah-Hamas Reconciliation Agreement of 23 April 2014. However, the Unity Government shortly came to deadlock over implementing policies. In July 2015, President Abbas reshuffled the Ramallah-based Unity Government, giving raise to what is described as the Palestinian government of 2015, because Hamas was not consulted on the changes.

On 13 October 2016, Hamas called for a return of full-fledged Hamas governance of the Gaza Strip under Islamil Haniyeh.[7] On 17 October, the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Legislative Council supported a reshuffle of Palestinian government representatives in the Gaza Strip, without the consent of President Abbas, thereby in effect creating a new government comprising Deputy Ministers and Directors-General.

Members of the government
Name Office Party Took office Left Office
Yahya Sinwar[1][2] Prime Minister Hamas 13 February 2017 Present
Foreign Ministry Hamas
Justice Hamas
Ibrahim Radwan[4] Public Works Hamas 17 October 2016 Present
Kamel Madi[4] Land Authority Hamas 17 October 2016 Present
Local Government Hamas
Agriculture Hamas
Jawad Abu Shamala[4] Finance Hamas 2016 9 October 2023[8]
Ihab al-Ghusain[4] Transport Hamas 17 October 2016 Present
Samir Mtayyar[9][4] Energy Authority of the Gaza Strip Hamas 17 October 2016 Present
Mai al-Kaila Health Hamas
Religious affairs Hamas
Ihab al-Ghussein[10] Interior Hamas 17 October 2016
Bashir Abu Naja[4] Youth Hamas 17 October 2016 Present
Osama Mazini Education Hamas 2016 16 October 2023[11]
Anwar al-Buraawi[4] Culture Hamas 17 October 2016 Present
Ibrahim Jaber[4] Tourism Hamas 17 October 2016 Present
Jamila Abdallah Taha al-Shanti[4] Women's Affairs Hamas 2013 19 October 2023[12][13][14]

Responses to formation

Mahmud Abbas met with the political leader of Hamas Khaled Mashal in Qatar in late October and on 30 November 2016 it was reported that Mahmud Abbas proposed to Hamas the formation of a temporary unity government to bridge the issues between Hamas and Fatah.[15]

See also

References
  1. Beaumont, Peter (13 February 2017). "Hamas elects hardliner Yahya Sinwar as its Gaza Strip chief". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 February 2017.
  2. Balousha, Hazam; Booth, William (13 February 2017). "Hamas names hard-liner as its new political leader in Gaza". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017.
  3. "Hamas bound administration committee if PA halts all punitive measures in Gaza".
  4. "What's behind Hamas' latest Cabinet reshuffle in Gaza?". Al-Monitor.
  5. "Hamas appoints new prime minister in Gaza". The Jerusalem Post.
  6. "Israel air strikes kill 42 Palestinians, rockets fired from Gaza". Reuters. 15 May 2021.
  7. "Hamas calls for return of Haniyeh's government". Al-Monitor.
  8. "Israeli air strikes kill two Hamas ministers, IDF says". POLITICO. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  9. Amer, Adnan Abu (2016-10-27). "What's behind Hamas' latest Cabinet reshuffle in Gaza? - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  10. "Gaza's Interior Ministry: assassination of two more Palestinians proves the Occupation needs no justifications to kill civilians". February 20, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  11. "Hamas Hostage Negotiator Killed, Israel Says". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  12. Ben-David, Ricky; Spiro, Amy; Davidovich, Joshua; Magid, Jacob; Ghert-Zand, Renee; Magid, Jacob; Fabian, Emanuel (2023-10-19). "Jamila al-Shanti, 1st woman in Hamas political bureau, said killed in Israeli strike". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  13. "Hamas political leader killed in Gaza". The Jerusalem Post. 2023-10-19. Archived from the original on 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  14. Dooley, Matthew (2023-10-19). "Hamas political leader killed by Israel in devastating strike against terrorists". Express.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  15. Nazzal, Rami; Baker, Peter (December 1, 2016). "Mahmoud Abbas Proposes Palestinian Unity Government With Hamas" – via NYTimes.com.
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