Following the recently brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, affirming Palestine’s readiness to “assume full responsibility” for governance in the region.
Emphasizing Gaza as an integral part of Palestine, President Abbas stated, “The Presidency affirmed its firm position of the necessity of an immediate ceasefire in and full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The Presidency reiterated that it was necessary to establish an immediate ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and pave the way for the State of Palestine to assume full responsibility for the Gaza Strip as an integral part of the occupied territory. The State of Palestine has legal and political jurisdiction over the Strip as it is the case with the rest of the occupied territory of the West Bank and Jerusalem, while affirming rejection of any carving up of the Gaza Strip and forced expulsion of any Palestinian from their homeland.”
In his statement, Abbas underscored that the Palestinian government is fully prepared to take administrative and security control of the region to alleviate suffering, enable displaced persons to return, restore essential services, and manage border crossings for reconstruction efforts.
“The Palestinian government has completed all preparations to assume full responsibilities in the Strip and that the government administrative and security personnel were fully prepared to carry out their tasks in order to alleviate the suffering inflicted on the Gaza population, allow displaced persons to return to their houses, restore essential services to the Strip, assume responsibility for the border crossings and help commence Gaza reconstruction,” he added.
Abbas also appealed to the international community for urgent humanitarian aid, reconstruction support, and assistance in achieving a political resolution consistent with UN resolutions.
“The Presidency urges the international community along with neighbouring and donor countries to offer urgent humanitarian aid to enable the government to shoulder its responsibilities towards the Palestinian people, whether in the Gaza Strip which has been subjected to a genocidal war or in the West Bank and Jerusalem which have been subjected to grave Israeli violations,” the statement read.
He reiterated the need for a political solution aligned with the United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, advocating for an international peace conference to recognize the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The ceasefire agreement, approved by Israel’s security cabinet, consists of three phases. Initially, a six-week truce will be implemented, involving the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, a significant increase in aid to Gaza, and the return of displaced residents. According to US President Joe Biden, Israeli troops will withdraw from “all” populated areas in Gaza.
In subsequent phases, negotiations will aim to achieve a permanent resolution, with further prisoner exchanges and troop withdrawals. The final phase will focus on the reconstruction of Gaza and returning the remains of deceased hostages.