Palestinian PM quits amid Gaza conflict

Jerusalem, February 26

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh says his government was resigning, in a move that could open the door to US-backed reforms in the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Shtayyeh said he was resigning to allow for the formation of a broad consensus among Palestinians about political arrangements following Israel’s war against the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza.

The move comes amid growing US pressure on President Mahmoud Abbas to shake up the Palestinian Authority as international efforts have intensified to stop the fighting in Gaza and begin work on a political structure to govern the enclave after the war.

His resignation must still be accepted by Abbas, who may ask him to stay on as caretaker until a permanent replacement is appointed.

In a statement to cabinet, Shtayyeh, an academic economist who took office in 2019, said the next stage would need to take account of the emerging reality in Gaza, which has been laid waste by nearly five months of heavy fighting.

He said the next stage would “require new governmental and political arrangements that take into account the emerging reality in the Gaza Strip, the national unity talks, and the urgent need for an inter-Palestinian consensus”.

In addition, it would require “the extension of the Authority’s authority over the entire land, Palestine”. — Agencies

India voices ‘great concern’ over Gaza

Geneva: Underling that the conflict in Gaza is of ‘great concern’, India said the humanitarian crisis arising from conflicts required a sustainable solution that gives immediate relief to those affected. Addressing the 55th session of the UNHRC, EAM S Jaishankar said terrorism and hostage-taking weren’t acceptable and hoped the conflict doesn’t spread within or beyond the region.