Following Israel’s war against the Islamist organization Hamas in Gaza, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced his resignation on Monday. This comes as the Palestinian Authority tries to garner support for an expanded role.
The action was taken in response to mounting international pressure on President Mahmoud Abbas to reorganize the Authority and start constructing a political framework to oversee the enclave following the war.
Shtayyeh’s resignation was accepted by Abbas, who also asked him to serve as interim manager until a permanent replacement was found.
The prime minister has no real authority, and the Palestinian Authority—which was established almost thirty years ago as a component of the temporary Oslo peace accords—has been severely damaged by charges of corruption and inefficiency.
However, Shtayyeh’s exit represents a symbolic turn that emphasizes Abbas’ will to make sure the Authority upholds its leadership position as global pressure mounts for a resurgence of attempts to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Shtayyeh, an academic economist who assumed office in 2019, stated in a message to the cabinet that the incoming administration would have to consider the new situation in Gaza, which has been completely destroyed by intense fighting spanning nearly five months.
He stated that the following phase will “require new governmental and political arrangements that take into account the emerging reality in the Gaza Strip, the national unity talks, and the urgent need for an inter-Palestinian consensus.”
Furthermore, “the extension of the Authority’s authority over the entire land, Palestine” would be necessary.
Although Abbas has not yet named a replacement, it is widely anticipated that he will select Mohammad Mustafa, a former World Bank employee and chairman of the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) who has expertise reconstructing Gaza following a previous conflict in 2014. Regarding the elections, which have not taken place since 2006, nothing has been said.
