Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, hopes that the Palestinian Authority (PA) will resume governing Gaza after the war with Israel ends. Speaking at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, the Qatari PM who had helped to negotiate the ceasefire emphasized that Gazans not external entities should determine the governance of the enclave.
“We hope to see the PA back in Gaza,” Sheikh Mohammed stated. “We hope to see a government that will really address the issues of the people over there. And there is a long way to go with Gaza and the destruction.”
The Ceasefire Agreement and Governance Challenges
The ceasefire agreement which was mediated by Qatar alongside Egypt and the U.S., came into effect two days ago. However, the agreement did not directly address how Gaza would be governed after the war. The ceasefire deal, which included hostage releases, was the result of nearly 15 months of negotiations.
Governance Dilemmas: PA vs. Hamas
Israel has opposed Hamas returning to power in Gaza, citing its role in previous conflicts. However, Israel is also resistant to governance by the Palestinian Authority. The PA, established under the Oslo Accords, has limited authority in the West Bank and has faced challenges in maintaining political influence.
The PA, dominated by the Fatah faction founded by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, has a contentious history with Hamas. In 2007, Hamas forcibly expelled the PA from Gaza following a brief civil war, leaving governance of the enclave solely in its hands.
A Long Road Ahead
As the rebuilding of Gaza begins, questions about governance remain unresolved. Sheikh Mohammed’s call for Palestinian Authority leadership reflects a potential path forward, but the deep divisions between rival Palestinian factions and external pressures complicate the situation. The future of Gaza’s governance will depend heavily on the political will of its people and the outcomes of ongoing negotiations.
