Palestine’s President Abbas says ready to govern Gaza after ceasefire deal

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip and demanded the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. This marks Abbas's first statement since the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, expressing the Palestinian Authority's (PA) readiness to assume "full responsibility" in Gaza post-war.

A statement issued by the presidential office on Friday declared that, "Under the instructions of President Abbas, the Palestinian government has completed all preparations to assume full responsibility in Gaza." This responsibility encompasses the return of displaced persons to their homes, the provision of essential services, the management of border crossings, and the reconstruction of the war-torn region. The statement also reaffirmed the Abbas government's call for "an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a demand for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces."

Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, while the Palestinian Authority, dominated by the Fatah movement, governs the West Bank, which is occupied by Israeli forces. Currently, Israel has not clarified its position on post-war governance, merely rejecting any role for Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have repeatedly stated their opposition to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority ruling Palestinian territories, calling both scenarios equivalent to a "reward" for the October 7, 2023 attacks.

However, outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated last week that the Palestinian Authority should govern the coastal region of Gaza. Palestinian leaders from various factions have long maintained that the future of Gaza should be determined by themselves, rejecting any external interference. On Friday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa stated that government institutions are prepared to intensify efforts to restore essential services in Gaza, while also calling on the European Union to redeploy its monitoring mission to the Rafah border crossing and assist in facilitating the entry of aid supplies.

During his visit to Brussels, Mustafa was quoted by the Belgian news agency as saying, "Palestinian ministers have a clear idea of what needs to be done from the moment the ceasefire begins. We have developed a 100-day plan for the days following the ceasefire."