Palestinian Authority Demands Sole Governance of Gaza Post-War

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa declared Wednesday that the Palestinian Authority must be the sole governing power in Gaza after the war, as negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release near completion. Speaking at a conference in Norway, Mustafa emphasized the need for a unified Palestinian state, rejecting any division between Gaza and the West Bank.

“While we are waiting for the ceasefire, it is important to stress that it won’t be acceptable for any other entity to govern the Gaza Strip but the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the state of Palestine,” Mustafa said, according to the text of his speech. He added that Norway’s recognition of a Palestinian state last year was a significant step toward the two-state solution supported by much of the international community.

Israel has rejected any role for Hamas, which controlled Gaza before the war, and has been equally opposed to governance by the Palestinian Authority. Israeli officials accuse the PA of supporting attacks against Israel and argue that Hamas’ popularity among Palestinians outside Gaza makes any Palestinian state vulnerable to takeover by the Islamist group.

The Palestinian Authority, dominated by the Fatah faction, also faces opposition from Hamas, which ousted the PA from Gaza in 2007 after a brief civil war. Mustafa stressed that any attempt to separate Gaza from the West Bank would be rejected, calling for a unified Palestinian leadership to govern both territories.

As ceasefire talks progress, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with over 2 million people facing severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. Mustafa urged the international community to pressure Israel to allow more aid into the enclave and to support the Palestinian Authority’s role in post-war governance.