Palestinian Authority (AP) Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced his resignation on Monday February 26, to pave way for a consensus among Palestinians on post-war political arrangements in the aftermath of Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
The resignation aligns with mounting pressure from the United States on President Mahmoud Abbas to restructure the Palestinian Authority amidst global efforts to stop the violence in Gaza and establish a governing framework for the region post-war.
“I would like to inform the honorable council and our great people that I placed the government’s resignation at the disposal of Mr. President (Mahmoud Abbas), last Tuesday, and today I submit it in writing,” Shtayyeh said.
The Prime Minister’s Reason for Resignation
Shtayyeh, an academic economist who assumed office in 2019, highlighted the necessity of adapting to the new reality in Gaza after months of intense conflict.
He emphasized the need for fresh governmental and political structures that acknowledge the evolving situation in Gaza, ongoing national unity discussions, and the critical requirement for Palestinian consensus.
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“I see that the next phase and its challenges require new governmental and political arrangements, taking into account the emerging reality in the Gaza Strip, national unity talks and the urgent need for a Palestinian-Palestinian agreement based on a national basis, broad participation, class unity, and to extend the authority of authority over the entire Palestinian land.” said the Prime Minister
“This decision comes in the light of political, security, and economic developments related to aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip, a fierce, unprecedented, genocide, forced evacuation attempts, starvation in Gaza, intensification of settlement, settler terrorism,” he added.
Political Reforms in Palestine
The Palestinian Authority (PA), established three decades ago under the Oslo peace accords currently holds limited control over parts of the West Bank but lost authority in Gaza following clashes with Hamas in 2007.
Efforts are underway between Fatah, the faction that controls the Palestinian Authority and Hamas to negotiate a unity government, with talks scheduled in Moscow this week to address broader governance agreements for Palestinians.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri stressed that Shtayyeh’s resignation should be viewed within the context of achieving national consensus on future arrangements.
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“The resignation of Shtayyeh’s government only makes sense if it comes within the context of national consensus on arrangements for the next phase,” said senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri as reported by Reuters.
Israel has expressed opposition to Palestinian Authority rule over Gaza post-conflict due to security concerns, following a series of hostilities triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with nearly 30,000 Palestinians reported killed by Palestinian health authorities and widespread displacement among the population.
Nonetheless, President Abbas must still approve Shtayyeh’s resignation, potentially leading to an interim caretaker role until a permanent successor is appointed.