t would have been more prudent to engage in a national consultation regarding the formation of the new Palestinian government, even though the appointment of the government is within the authority of President Mahmoud Abbas according to the Basic Law. This is particularly relevant in the absence of the Legislative Council, whose powers have been transferred to the National Council and the Central Council. A meeting of the Central Council could have been convened to discuss the government’s program, approve it, and endorse the cabinet lineup. Moreover, a broader factional meeting could have been held, involving all factions, including those not represented in the institutions of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
In practice, many necessary things have not occurred, but we do not have the luxury of wasting time on fruitless discussions about what should have been done. Instead, it is more important to focus on what needs to be done now and, in the future, to address the disasters facing our people due to the genocidal war they are subjected to in Gaza, and even in the West Bank, albeit on a smaller scale.
It is now clear that Hamas can no longer return to governing the Gaza Strip as it did before the war. This would mean leaving Gaza in ruins and perpetuating the tragic situation that may continue to dominate the reality there for a long time to come. Therefore, national responsibility requires giving the new government the opportunity to fully exercise its duties in the Gaza Strip. It is now essential to provide all forms of support and assistance to the government in its work, and this should begin now, even before a ceasefire is reached and this barbaric war in Gaza ends, and before Israel allows the Palestinian Authority (PA) to return to Gaza.
The most important priority now for working in Gaza, which requires everyone’s cooperation, is to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all our people in different areas of the Strip, especially in the north, and that it is distributed fairly and equitably, preventing criminal gangs from controlling it and ensuring it reaches those who deserve it. In this context, national committees, both central and regional, should be immediately formed across various areas of the Strip. These committees should include representatives from different factions, popular committees, families, the Red Crescent, and the United Nations, with the largest role given to UNRWA, which Israel seeks to dismantle and prevent from operating. It is important to consider responsibly avoiding including representatives of organizations that are not accepted by international parties in these committees, and instead, replacing them with trusted independent figures. The goal is to ensure that these committees are equipped with all the necessary elements for success, enabling them to receive, protect, and distribute aid to everyone so that the government can fulfill its duties in Gaza. Such committees will undoubtedly gain the trust of citizens, prevent manipulation of aid, and thwart Israeli attempts to establish an unacceptable national administration.
A significant role is expected of Hamas in responding to the catastrophic situation in Gaza. This role is fundamentally based on national responsibility. Now is not the time to revisit everything that has happened in Gaza and point fingers. However, there is no doubt that everyone, especially Hamas, must work to prevent further harm and disasters to civilians and protect them from all harm. This is especially true given that Israel has crossed all human red lines in its criminal aggression against Gaza, which has spared nothing and has risen to the level of genocide against the Palestinian people.
Humanitarian work is a top priority in light of Israel’s policy of starvation against our people, particularly in northern Gaza. Therefore, all necessary efforts must be made to ensure that aid reaches northern Gaza, and Hamas must abandon the idea of reclaiming control by force and allow anyone who can assume national responsibility to do so.
Another issue that will soon face us is the reconstruction of Gaza after the war ends. Here, we are confronted with two different projects: a national Palestinian project supported by Arab and international parties, and an Israeli project that, so far, has not received support from any international party. The first project involves the return of the PA to govern the Gaza Strip in coordination with the West Bank, within the framework of a political settlement leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, possibly beginning with the recognition of the State of Palestine on the June 4, 1967 borders. The Israeli project, on the other hand, involves the continued occupation of Gaza and full security control over it, with the establishment of a civilian administration linked to the occupation as an alternative to the PA, aimed at preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Therefore, the duty requires everyone to support the national project, which currently has significant potential. The cornerstone of our project is the unification of the two parts of our homeland. This is the most important task and the top priority for the new government, which everyone must contribute to making successful.
The national mission entrusted to the government is, in essence, the mission of all Palestinian patriots. It is not just required of Hamas and the factions in Gaza alone; it is required of everyone. Therefore, there should be a single national reference for the government, which is the PLO, with the participation of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Perhaps the ideal formula would be to form a factional committee that includes everyone and operates under the umbrella of the PLO, so that everyone is responsible for implementing the government’s program in various fields, whether it is ensuring a decent life for citizens by solving Gaza’s problems and the problems of all areas of the homeland, unifying institutions in the West Bank and Gaza, or comprehensive reform of the official institution in all aspects that suffer from dysfunction. This requires a partnership capable of saving our people and their national cause.
Author: Ashraf Ajrami