Netanyahu stands in way of Abbas’s Gaza governance vision
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, describes the Palestinian Authority president’s address to the UN General Assembly as compelling in its condemnation of Israel’s crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. However, he says the speech failed to address three major issues:
- The US exclusion of Palestinian representatives – Abbas and other Palestinian parties were denied the right to participate in person at the UN gathering in New York, which Barghouti called “an act of collective punishment”.
- The status of the Beijing Declaration – The national unity agreement was signed in July 2024 by 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah.
- The need for sanctions on Israel – Barghouti stressed that international recognition alone is insufficient; Palestinian civil society and other pro-Palestine groups are demanding sanctions to deter Israel’s ongoing actions.
Regarding Abbas’s vision for the PA to assume control in Gaza, Barghouti said it would face less resistance from Hamas than from Netanyahu, who aims to block any Palestinian group from taking leadership.
“The problem is that Netanyahu doesn’t want either Hamas, Fatah, the PA, the PLO or any Palestinian rule in Gaza,” Barghouti told Al Jazeera.
“That is the real challenge that is facing Gaza and the Palestinians. And that requires, in addition to diplomatic efforts, enhancing the Palestinian demand for sanctions on Israel … Only this will change the Israeli course.”
Hamas condemns Palestinian President Abbas’s call to disarm
The Palestinian group has released a statement after the UNGA speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
- Resistance is a national and moral responsibility that derives its legitimacy from our people.
- The Palestinian Authority’s assertion that Hamas will have no role in government is an infringement on the Palestinian people’s inherent right to self-determination.
- The resistance’s weapons cannot be touched as long as the occupation remains on our land, and we condemn the PA president’s demand to hand them over.
Future of Palestine being discussed in NY without Palestinian presence
The Americans are confident they are going to decide the future of the post-war governance in Gaza without the Palestinian Authority. And this explains the defiant tone of President Mahmoud Abbas, who had to deliver the speech remotely after his visa was denied by the US.
He said that his people will continue the fight until an independent, viable Palestinian state is established, and that there is absolutely no way they will allow for Palestinians to be forced out of Gaza. But he also said – and this was his attempt to try to build bridges with the international community – that he wants to be part of the architecture which they want to put into place in Gaza. And he insisted that Hamas will not be allowed to take part in any governance, but this is something that ultimately he won’t be able to have a say about it.
The last few days, I’ve been talking to Western officials about whether they think a rejuvenated Palestinian Authority should be part of the political establishment. Most of them told me they don’t want to see Mahmoud Abbas any more as Palestinian president, but at the same time, they want to see genuine reforms of the Palestinian Authority, because the Americans and the Israelis still insist it has to happen before there’s any comprehensive political settlement.
‘Replacing Israeli occupation with foreign rule is unacceptable’
Marwan Barghouti of the Palestinian National Initiative said any discussions about the future of the Palestinian people held on the sidelines of the UN meeting, where Palestinian representatives are excluded, will be unproductive.
“Nothing will be accepted if it excludes us as people,” Barghouti told Al Jazeera.
He specifically criticised reports of diplomatic talks, suggesting that foreign countries might help govern and secure the enclave after the war.
“We don’t need any other country – whether from the region or outside the region – to come and rule us. That is unacceptable,” said Barghouti. “Replacing an Israeli occupation with another foreign rule is not acceptable.”
“To think and speak of bringing foreign troops to Palestine … and have them take over the responsibility is not the solution,” he continued. “The solution is Palestinian independence, Palestinian freedom, accepting Palestinians as equal people and accepting Palestine as an equal country. And all these talks that are happening cannot be accepted unless they include Palestinians themselves.”
