Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has issued a direct call for Hamas to surrender control of the Gaza Strip and hand over all weapons. The statement, made public on July 29, underscores growing efforts within the PA to unify Palestinian leadership under a single, internationally recognized authority.
Mustafa’s remarks follow months of pressure from both internal factions and global partners for a long-term governance solution in Gaza. “There can be no reconstruction, no sovereignty, and no peace under armed militias,” he said. “Gaza must return to the Palestinian people through legitimate institutions.”
Political division at a crossroads
The Gaza Strip has been under Hamas control since 2007, following a violent split with Fatah. Since then, efforts to reconcile both factions have repeatedly collapsed. But the war that began in 2023 has altered regional dynamics, prompting renewed international insistence on unified Palestinian representation.
President Mahmoud Abbas has echoed the same stance in recent months, stating that only the Palestinian Authority, under PLO leadership, has the legitimacy to govern Gaza. He called for the release of hostages, dismantling of Hamas’s armed wing, and a political reintegration process to restore national unity.
International and Israeli positions aligned
Israel has consistently declared that no ceasefire or post-war plan will be accepted unless Hamas fully disarms. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated last week that the presence of an armed Hamas in Gaza makes peace impossible and poses an existential threat to Israeli civilians.
This unusual alignment between Israeli leadership and the Palestinian Authority both demanding the end of Hamas’s armed rule could reshape how negotiations proceed in the coming months.
The road ahead for Gaza
Despite the declarations, challenges remain. Hamas has not indicated willingness to relinquish power or weapons. Any move toward PA governance would likely require international guarantees, robust security measures, and financial aid for reconstruction.
Still, the PA’s position signals a shift in Palestinian politics. Instead of accepting Hamas’s role as a de facto authority, the leadership is now openly positioning itself as the sole legitimate representative of both the West Bank and Gaza.
Whether this translates into meaningful change will depend on global mediation efforts, internal Palestinian reconciliation, and the unpredictable calculus of war and survival on the ground.
Source: Reuters, Al Arabiya, Arab News, The Media Line, Times of Israel, Times of India
