Israeli premier rules out Palestinian Authority’s rule in Gaza after war

December 8, 2023

- Netanyahu's statement contradicts US position on post-war setup in Gaza Strip

By Abdelraouf Arna'out

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday said allowing the Palestinian Authority to rule the Gaza Strip after the war is not a solution to the crisis.

Netanyahu said on his X account that Hamas would be eliminated, also rejecting the proposal for the Palestinian Authority to rule Gaza.

The Hamas group has been ruling Gaza since 2007 when it pushed the Palestinian Authority out of Gaza. The Palestinian political setup split with Hamas ruling Gaza and its rival Fatah group of the Palestinian Authority ruling the West Bank.

Netanyahu's statement contradicts the US position which stressed at several times that there must be a Palestinian Authority government in Gaza in the post-war period.

The Palestinian Authority has also said it is ready to return to Gaza under a comprehensive political plan that includes unity between the West Bank, Gaza, and occupied East Jerusalem.

Israel resumed its military offensive on the Gaza Strip on Dec. 1 after the end of a weeklong humanitarian pause with the Palestinian group Hamas.

At least 17,487 Palestinians have been killed and more than 46,480 others injured in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Oct. 7 following a cross-border attack by Hamas.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stood at 1,200, according to official figures.