What role the Palestinian Authority could play in Gaza after the conflict

Western diplomats are considering the PA returning to govern Gaza once the Israel-Hamas war ends

Mahmoud Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas, now 88, has been unchallenged as president of the Palestinian Authority since 2005
(Image credit: Rıza Ozel/dia images via Getty Images)

Western leaders are mooting a possible return of the beleaguered Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Gaza and the West Bank following the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

But even if Hamas was ousted from Gaza, the notion of the PA as the "chosen rescue vehicle is unpopular", said The Guardian. It does not have "popular legitimacy" among Palestinian people, while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already rejected the idea, despite it being backed by the US.

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Richard Windsor is a freelance writer for The Week Digital. He began his journalism career writing about politics and sport while studying at the University of Southampton. He then worked across various football publications before specialising in cycling for almost nine years, covering major races including the Tour de France and interviewing some of the sport’s top riders. He led Cycling Weekly’s digital platforms as editor for seven of those years, helping to transform the publication into the UK’s largest cycling website. He now works as a freelance writer, editor and consultant.