PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa calls on Hamas to hand over control of Gaza and its weapons, asserting the PA’s exclusive authority and denouncing terrorism at UN conference.
Power Struggle at the UN: PA Demands Hamas Disarm, Calls for Full Control of Gaza
In a dramatic escalation of intra-Palestinian tensions, Palestinian Authority (PA) cabinet leader Mohammad Mustafa on Monday publicly demanded that Hamas surrender its weapons and cede control of Gaza, during a high-profile UN conference in New York focused on advancing a two-state solution.
“Hamas must relinquish its control over the Strip and hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” Mustafa declared, according to CNN. “The State of Palestine is the only rightful ruler of Gaza.”
Mustafa’s remarks underscore the growing urgency within the PA to reassert sovereignty over Gaza, nearly two decades after Hamas violently overthrew PA forces in a 2007 coup, establishing a rival Islamist regime in the coastal enclave.
🛑 PA to Hamas: No Guns, No Rule
Mustafa also took aim at terrorism—distancing the PA from Hamas’s methods and rhetoric.
“The Palestinian Authority rejects violence and terrorism in all its forms, including targeting and attacking civilians,” he stated, in an apparent rebuke of Hamas’s attacks on Israeli citizens and recent hostage-taking.
He called on Israel to fully withdraw from Gaza, aligning his message with international demands for renewed talks under a two-state framework—but emphasizing that a future Palestinian state must be unified under PA leadership, not divided between Fatah and Hamas factions.
🔄 A History of Failed Unity
This is not the first time the PA has tried to reclaim Gaza:
- 2007: Hamas seized Gaza in a bloody coup, ousting the PA from the territory.
- 2015: A unity government collapsed as Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the coalition, citing irreconcilable differences.
- 2017: A reconciliation agreement was signed, but repeated delays and political “obstacles” prevented implementation.
In April 2024, Abbas fiercely lashed out at Hamas, branding its members “sons of dogs” and demanding the release of Israeli hostages and the group’s total disarmament—further highlighting the chasm between Gaza and Ramallah.
🌍 Global Stage, Internal Feud
Mustafa’s comments come at a time when the international community, led by France, the UN, and the U.S., is intensifying calls for a two-state solution. Yet the reality on the ground remains fractured, with Hamas entrenched in Gaza and the PA struggling to maintain authority in parts of Judea and Samaria.
His demand at the UN signals the PA’s attempt to reclaim international legitimacy and position itself as the sole, responsible representative of the Palestinian people—while framing Hamas as an armed rogue faction standing in the way of peace.
