The Authority of Palestine prepares for governance of Gaza and seeks broader international recognition
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa announced that his government is making preparations to eventually govern all Palestinian territories, including Gaza. He also urged more European countries to join Ireland, Spain, and Norway to get the recognition of the state of Palestine, which is a crucial step towards lasting peace in the region.
During a press conference with Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Mustafa emphasized the urgent need to support the people of Gaza and prepare for future governance. “We need to work quickly to help our people in Gaza and prepare for the day that we will be in power in Gaza,” Mustafa stated. He highlighted the importance of building state institutions and having a clear governance plan for Gaza.
Mustafa stressed that international recognition of the state of Palestine is essential for establishing lasting peace and maintaining the viability of a two-state solution. “This is the beginning of the realization of peace, rather than a promise of peace that we have been waiting for for 30 years,” he remarked. He advocated for full United Nations membership for Palestine as a means to sustain hope for peace in the region.
Spanish Foreign Minister about the recognition of Palestine
Spanish Foreign Minister Albares condemned actions taken to intimidate Spain following its recognition of Palestine, particularly Israel’s decision to restrict the activities of Spanish NGOs in the West Bank. Albares reiterated Spain’s condemnation of the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7 against Israel and its demand for the release of all hostages. He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the entry of necessary humanitarian aid, asserting that Spain would not be intimidated in its stance.
In addition to his meeting with Albares, Mustafa met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, who formally handed over documents confirming Norway’s recognition of a Palestinian state. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also condemned ongoing violence in the West Bank and the military offensive in Gaza, describing the situation as dire and on the brink of explosion.
The Spanish and Irish governments plan to meet with their European counterparts in Brussels on Monday to encourage other countries to recognize Palestine, seeking broader international support for their initiative.
