Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh resigns

(Patria) - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh resigned on Monday, as Palestinian authorities seek to build support for an expanded role following the Israeli war against Hamas in Gaza.

Abbas accepted Shtayyeh's resignation and asked him to remain in place until a permanent replacement is appointed, Reuters reported. The Palestinian Authority, created about thirty years ago as part of the Oslo interim peace agreement, has been severely undermined by accusations of inefficiency and corruption, and the prime minister has little effective power.

But Shtayyeh's departure marks a symbolic change that underscores Abbas's determination to ensure the authorities maintain their right to lead as international pressure mounts to revive efforts to create a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

In a statement to the government, Shtayyeh, an academic economist who took office in 2019, said the next administration would have to take into account the new reality in Gaza, which has been devastated by nearly five months of heavy fighting. He said the next phase "will require new governmental and political arrangements that take into account the new reality in the Gaza Strip, talks on national unity, and the urgent need for Palestinian consensus." In addition, it would require "expanding the government's authority to the entire land, Palestine."

A successor has not been named, but Abbas is expected to appoint Mohammad Mustafa,
a former World Bank official who chairs the Palestinian Investment Fund with experience in rebuilding Gaza after the previous war in 2014.

The Palestinian Authority has limited authority over parts of the occupied West Bank, but
lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007. Over the years, it has been severely weakened and
polls show it is deeply unpopular among Palestinians, but it remains the only
governing body recognized by the international community.

Palestinian leaders say their ability to exercise effective governance is effectively blocked by Israeli restrictions, which include withholding tax revenues due under the Oslo Accords. The Authority has been unable to pay full public sector salaries for months due to the Israeli Finance Ministry's refusal to release funds.

Israel has long accused the authorities of supporting terrorism by offering financial support to
families of militants killed by Israeli forces and allowing anti-Semitic material to be included in school textbooks. Israel has also attacked Palestinian leaders, including Abbas, for failing to condemn the October 7th Hamas-led attack on Israel.

Fatah, which controls the Authority, and Hamas have made efforts to bridge their differences and reach an agreement on a unity government and are expected to meet in Moscow on Wednesday. A senior Hamas official said the move must be accompanied by a broader agreement on Palestinian governance.