RAMALLAH: The Palestinian Authority (PA) expresses hopes for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza conflict before the onset of the holy month of Ramadan, stated Riyad al-Maliki, the Palestinian Foreign Minister.
During a press conference at a diplomatic gathering in Antalya, Türkiye, the Palestinian Foreign Minister asserted the PA’s role as the “only legitimate authority” to govern Gaza post-war.
Maliki’s remarks underscore the authority’s aspirations amid the tumultuous situation in the region. Since losing control of Gaza to the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in 2007, the PA has sought avenues to regain influence in the territory.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by third parties, aim to secure a ceasefire ahead of Ramadan, set to commence on March 10 this year. Talks are slated to resume in Cairo on Sunday, as confirmed by Egyptian security sources.
While progress has been made on key aspects such as ceasefire duration and the release of hostages and prisoners, certain issues remain unresolved. The withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Gaza and the repatriation of displaced residents are among the outstanding matters requiring agreement.
Despite a recent incident on Thursday, in which over 100 Palestinians seeking aid were killed by Israeli forces, negotiations continue.
