Palestinian Prime Minister and Government Resign, Reports Reuters

By Ali Sawafta

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah has submitted his resignation and that of the unity government to President Mahmoud Abbas, marking a setback for ongoing reconciliation efforts with Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza.

In a statement, Abbas confirmed that he accepted the resignation and noted that the current government would continue its duties until a new government is established.

A Hamas representative criticized the resignation, suggesting it was an effort to sideline the group from the political landscape of Palestine.

Hamdallah, who has a background in academia, led the national unity government formed in 2014, overseeing Fatah’s attempts to reconcile with Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007.

The two factions had previously signed a reconciliation agreement two years ago, outlining a plan for the Palestinian Authority to regain control over Gaza and manage its border crossings with Egypt and Israel.

However, disagreements regarding power-sharing and approaches to Israel have stalled the realization of this agreement.

"The president will initiate consultations to form a political government comprised of factions within the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) that will work towards organizing new parliamentary elections," Abbas stated.