Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa on Thursday formed a new cabinet, in which he will also serve as foreign minister, considering an immediate ceasefire and Israel`s withdrawal from Gaza as top priorities, the Palestinian news agency.
Mustafa, an ally of President Mahmoud Abbas and a prominent businessman was appointed prime minister this month with a mandate to help reform the Palestinian Authority (PA), the implementing agency exercise limited autonomy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
He was also tasked with directing the relief and reconstruction of Gaza, which had been devastated by more than five months of war, while also holding a dual role as foreign minister, replacing Riyad al-Maliki, who had held the post since 2009.
Calls for an immediate ceasefire, Israel withdraws from Gaza He approves Mustafa’s cabinet with finance expert Omar al-Bitar as finance minister and Muhamad al Amour, who was president of the Palestinian Businessmen Association, served as economy minister, but retained Ziad Hab al-Reeh, the former head of the Palestinian Authority’s internal intelligence agency, as minister of ‘Home Affairs,’ WAFA said.
Mustafa said in a cabinet statement to Abbas that the nation’s top priority is an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a complete Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, in addition to allowing continued humanitarian aid.
Hamas, the movement that controlled Gaza until Israel invaded following the October 7 attack on southern Israel, criticized Mustafa’s appointment but had no immediate reaction to the new cabinet appointment.
However, he repeatedly condemned the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and emphasized that he must play a role in the post-war governance of Gaza.