Palestinian Authority, President Mahmud Abbas on Thursday approved a new government presented by the prime minister, Mohammed Mustafa. The aim of this new government is to ensure an effective adminstration in post-war Gaza.
The Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa who is an ally to President Mahmud as well as a leading business figure formed this new cabinet consisting of 23 ministers on Thursday.
He is also to serve in this new administration as the foreign minister, with a major aim of effecting a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine and ensuring Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported “Mohammed presented the government’s work program and the proposed formation list to President Mahmoud Abbas,” It further said “Accordingly, the President issued granted confidence to the 19th government,”
The president appointed the new government in a demonstration of willingness to meet international demands for change in the administration.
In January, just over three months into the Israel-Hamas war, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ramallah and urged “administrative reforms” to benefit Palestinians and potentially reunite the West Bank and Gaza under a single authority.
“We’ll be looking for this new government to deliver on policies and to implement those credible and far-reaching reforms,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday following the new government’s approval.
The new government will prioritize humanitarian issues, encompassing a comprehensive plan for humanitarian aid for Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and reconstruction of the enclave, the WAFA report said.
Mustafa In his first public appearance after his nomination, talked of “transparency” and “zero tolerance” for corruption.
