On Monday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced his resignation, aiming to facilitate the creation of a broad consensus among Palestinians regarding political arrangements following Israel’s recent conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
This move coincides with increasing pressure from the United States on President Mahmoud Abbas to bring changes to the Palestinian Authority. The international community is intensifying efforts to cease hostilities in Gaza and establish a political framework for the region post-war.
President Abbas needs to accept Shtayyeh’s resignation, and there is a possibility that he may request Shtayyeh to serve as a caretaker until a permanent replacement is appointed. Shtayyeh, an academic economist who assumed office in 2019, emphasized the need for new governmental and political arrangements considering the current situation in Gaza, heavily affected by almost five months of intense fighting.
The envisioned next stage requires addressing the emerging reality in Gaza, engaging in national unity talks, and urgently establishing an inter-Palestinian consensus. Additionally, there is a call for extending the Palestinian Authority’s authority over the entire land of Palestine.
The Palestinian Authority, established 30 years ago under the interim Oslo Peace Accords, holds limited governance in parts of the occupied West Bank but lost control of Gaza in 2007 after a conflict with Hamas. Fatah, the faction controlling the PA, and Hamas are striving for an agreement on a unity government, with scheduled discussions in Moscow on Wednesday. A senior Hamas official emphasized that Shtayyeh’s resignation should be part of a broader agreement on governance for the Palestinians.
Notably, Israel has pledged to dismantle Hamas and, citing security concerns, has expressed reluctance to accept Palestinian Authority rule over Gaza after the conflict. The ongoing fighting in Gaza has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with nearly 30,000 Palestinians reported killed and the majority of the population forced from their homes.
