Palestine has a new Cabinet

On March 28, Palestine announced the formation of a new Cabinet amid increasing pressure from the international community on the issue of reform.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abba (right) appointed Mr. Mohammad Mustafa - a long-time prestigious economic advisor, as Prime Minister, March 14, 2024.

Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that President Mahmoud Abbas - Palestinian leader for nearly two decades, issued a presidential decree, in which he recognized the new Cabinet submitted by new Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa.

Prime Minister Mustafa stressed that the new government's top priority is to end the conflict in Gaza.

The new Palestinian cabinet will include 23 ministers, including three women and six from the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City Mayor Maged Abu Ramadan.

Previously, on March 14, President Abbas appointed Mr. Mohammad Mustafa - a long-time prestigious advisor in the economic field, as Prime Minister.

Mr Mustafa has pledged to form a technocratic government and set up an independent trust fund to help rebuild Gaza. He will also serve as foreign minister. Ziad Hab al-Rih remains interior minister.

According to plan, the members of the Cabinet will be sworn in on March 31.

The Palestinian Authority currently administers part of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, while it lost power in the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007.

The US called on Palestine to reform its Cabinet and establish a political framework capable of managing post-conflict Gaza before it becomes an independent state.

Israel has rejected the idea, saying it would maintain security control over Gaza and work with Palestinians not affiliated with the Palestinian Authority or Hamas.

For its part, Hamas also opposed the formation of a new government, calling on all Palestinian factions, including Fatah, to form a power-sharing government ahead of the election. In addition, Hamas warned Palestinians in Gaza not to cooperate with Israel to govern the territory.

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