Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh tendered his resignation on Monday, amid growing pressure on the Palestinian Authority (PA) to play a more significant role in the aftermath of the devastating five-month conflict in Gaza.
Shtayyeh's decision, which requires acceptance by President Mahmoud Abbas, comes as international efforts intensify to end the fighting and rebuild the war-torn enclave. He is expected to remain in a caretaker capacity until a successor is appointed.
The resignation is seen as a symbolic step by Abbas to bolster the PA's claim to leadership amidst international calls for renewed efforts towards a two-state solution. Shtayyeh, an economist who assumed office in 2019, stressed the need for a new administration to address the "emerging reality" in Gaza, which has suffered immense destruction.
He stressed the importance of "new governmental and political arrangements" that consider the Gaza situation, ongoing reconciliation talks with Hamas, and fostering Palestinian unity. Additionally, he called for the "extension of the Authority's authority over the entire land, Palestine."
While no official successor has been named, reports suggest Mohammad Mustafa, a former World Bank official, is a frontrunner. Notably, elections, last held in 2006, haven't been scheduled.
The PA, established under the Oslo Accords, exercises limited control in parts of the occupied West Bank. It lost control of Gaza in 2007 following a power struggle with Hamas. Plagued by accusations of ineffectiveness and corruption, the PA's popularity among Palestinians has dwindled significantly.
Palestinian leaders maintain that Israeli restrictions, including withholding tax revenue, have hampered their ability to govern effectively. The PA has struggled to pay public sector salaries due to this ongoing dispute.
Meanwhile, Israel accuses the PA of supporting terrorism and harbouring anti-Semitic content in school curriculum. Additionally, they criticise the leadership for not condemning the Hamas attack on Israeli soil last October.
Efforts are underway to bridge the divide between Fatah, the party controlling the PA, and Hamas.
Both factions are scheduled to meet in Moscow this week. A senior Hamas official emphasised the need for a comprehensive agreement on Palestinian governance alongside Shtayyeh's resignation.
Israel, however, remains steadfast in its stance against Hamas, vowing to dismantle the group and opposing the PA's role in Gaza due to security concerns.
The conflict, which erupted following a Hamas attack in October, has claimed nearly 30,000 Palestinian lives and displaced the majority of the population in Gaza.
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