Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has submitted his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas, citing the unprecedented escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Shtayyeh emphasized the urgent need for new governmental and political arrangements to address evolving realities in Gaza and promote Palestinian unity.
The United States has been urging Abbas to initiate reforms for establishing a viable political framework for a Palestinian state. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has consistently rejected calls for the Palestinian Authority to assume control over Gaza, complicating prospects for progress. Netanyahu’s position received recent support from Israeli lawmakers against any “unilateral” recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel’s actions, accusing it of impeding Palestinian rights through continued occupation. The ministry reaffirmed Palestine’s UN membership and recognition by other nations, asserting that such status doesn’t require approval from Netanyahu or Israel.
Shtayyeh’s resignation coincides with heightened tensions in the West Bank, intensified by recent violence following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel. Retaliatory strikes by Israel on Gaza have led to significant casualties, with over 29,000 civilian deaths reported in Gaza and at least 401 fatalities in the West Bank.
As international attention focuses on the legal implications of Israel’s occupation, including hearings at the International Court of Justice, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans for over 3,300 new homes in response to an attack claiming the life of an Israeli civilian. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized this decision, reaffirming opposition to settlement expansion due to its detrimental impact on achieving lasting peace and its inconsistency with international law.
In the midst of escalating violence and diplomatic tensions, Prime Minister Shtayyeh’s resignation underscores the urgent need for concerted efforts to address the complex challenges facing the Palestinian territories and to advance towards a sustainable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
