Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh and his government have announced their resignations on Monday. Shtayyeh made the announcement in a Facebook post, stating that he had offered his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas last Tuesday and is now presenting it in writing.
The decision to resign comes as the Palestinian Autonomous Government faces intense pressure from the United States to reform and improve governance in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The government, dominated by the Fatah political party, has been criticized for corruption, both by American politicians and Palestinians.
Established in the mid-1990s as a temporary government pending Palestinian independence, the Palestinian Self-Government exercises nominal self-government in parts of the West Bank. It lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007 after the militant group won legislative elections, and Israel has since prohibited the return of the Palestinian Autonomous Government to Gaza.
The United States has expressed support for a reformed Palestinian Autonomous Government that controls both the West Bank and Gaza as part of a future independent state. Shtayyeh, who became prime minister in 2019, has spoken about the necessity of US involvement in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but has expressed doubts about the current US administration’s willingness to work towards a solution.
In his resignation statement, Shtayyeh suggested the formation of a national unity government that includes Hamas, without explicitly naming the group. He emphasized the need for Palestinian unity and solidarity in the face of challenges posed by Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank.
It remains unclear when the resignations will take effect or who will form the new government. The developments are ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.