According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa forms a new cabinet on Thursday, where he will also assume the role of foreign minister. The immediate priority of the new cabinet is to secure a ceasefire and ensure an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Mustafa, a close ally to President Mahmoud Abbas and a prominent business figure, was appointed prime minister with a mission to reform the Palestinian Authority (PA) governing the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
In addition to leading efforts for the relief and reconstruction of Gaza, which has suffered significant destruction due to months of fighting, Mustafa will also wear the hat of foreign minister, replacing Riyad Al-Maliki who had held the position since 2009. The appointment of this new government reflects Abbas’s commitment to meeting international demands for change within the administration.
Mustafa’s cabinet includes the appointment of financial expert Omar Al-Bitar as finance minister and Muhamad al Amour as economy minister. Ziad Hab Al-Reeh, the former head of the PA’s internal intelligence agency, retains his position as interior minister. Noteworthy, the cabinet comprises eight ministries from Gaza and will now include a state minister for “relief affairs.”
Mustafa stated the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a complete Israeli withdrawal from the region, and the facilitation of significant humanitarian aid to all affected areas. He stressed the importance of halting hostilities, settlement activities, and settler violence in the West Bank to kickstart the recovery and reconstruction process.
The appointment of Mustafa’s new cabinet has faced criticism from Hamas, the former ruling party in Gaza, but no immediate response has been issued regarding the cabinet’s composition. Over the years, the PA, led by Abbas’ Fatah faction, has had a complicated relationship with Hamas.
Currently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rebuffed PA participation in Gaza, with his finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, withholding tax revenues due to the Authority. This has led to financial strain, leaving thousands of public sector employees unpaid or receiving only partial salaries
Tags: Mustafa Palestinian Forms Cabinet Urges Urgent Ceasefire Gaza
