For Palestinians, U.S. Talk of a “Revitalized” PA in Gaza Is Code for Outsourced Oppression
InterceptJAN 2024
Hamas, Fatah Agree on Joint Post-war Gaza Administration
Above: Palestinian Pres. Mahmoud Abbas attends the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 11, 2024. Image copyright: Saudi Press Agency/Xinhua via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Though it must go through many changes beforehand, the only viable Palestinian political entity capable of governing Gaza after the war is Mahmoud Abbas' PA. Everyone can agree that the PA has many issues that must be urgently fixed, namely its corruption and Abbas' weakness. Nonetheless, Israel cannot reoccupy the Gaza Strip, as this is both logistically and morally out of the question. A revitalized PA will have to be created to take over Gaza's civil administration at the very least.
Pro-Israel narrative
Though the US may believe that it can force the PA to "reform," the reality is that the PA is simply not a partner for peace. Like Hamas, the PA supports the destruction of Israel, teaches Palestinians to hate, and lacks democratic legitimacy. The PA would be incapable of demilitarizing Gaza or deradicalizing its population, meaning that the chance that an attack like Oct. 7 could happen again remains. Indeed, Israel may as well let Hamas stay in power if it is truly considering allowing the PA to take over Gaza the day after the war.
Pro-Palestine narrative
The great irony of the debate regarding the PA is that Palestinians, especially in the occupied West Bank, by and large see the political body as an extension of Israel's occupation. Mahmoud Abbas and his lame-duck administration in the West Bank are deeply unpopular, and Palestinians simply do not want to be governed by the PA. The US must realize that it cannot force Palestinians to support the PA, and it will have to be more creative if it wants to set the conditions advantageous to ending this conflict.