In a significant diplomatic move, Russia has extended an invitation to various Palestinian factions for a meeting scheduled on February 26 in Moscow. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh confirmed the invitation, expressing the PA’s readiness to engage with Hamas.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Shtayyeh emphasized, “Russia has invited all Palestinian factions to meet in Moscow on the 26th of this month. We will see if Hamas is prepared to join us on the ground. We are prepared to engage, and if Hamas is not, that’s a different story. Palestinian unity is crucial, and for Hamas to be part of that unity, certain prerequisites must be met.”
The Palestinian Authority, established as part of the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, has witnessed a decline in legitimacy due to Israeli settlement activities in the occupied West Bank. Many Palestinians now perceive it as corrupt and out of touch.
Hamas, in control of the Gaza Strip for the past 17 years, has been a major player in Palestinian politics. Western and some Arab states advocate for a revitalized Palestinian Authority, under President Mahmoud Abbas, to assume control in Gaza once the ongoing conflict concludes, thereby unifying administration with the West Bank.
“Palestine is ready. We have the institutions and capabilities, but our serious problem is that we are under occupation,” Shtayyeh emphasized. “We are under Israeli occupation, and we need it to end.”
Responding to concerns about international partners, Shtayyeh clarified that incorporating Hamas into the broader PLO platform would require adherence to certain prerequisites. “For Hamas to be a member of the PLO, there must be an acceptance of the political platform of the PLO and an understanding on the issue of resistance. We are advocating for popular resistance and nothing else,” he stated.
Hamas has consistently welcomed Russian reconciliation efforts, with leaders of the Palestinian Islamist factions making repeated visits to Moscow, highlighting the positive relations maintained between Russia and Hamas.
