A senior Palestinian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Palestinian Authority is "engaged in serious and decisive discussions with all parties regarding its future and its ability to govern the West Bank and Gaza in the post-war phase."

The source, close to the decision-making circle of the Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, stated that "the Palestinian leadership is engaged in discussions with the Americans, Europeans, Arab countries, Hamas, and Israel, both directly and indirectly (through Arab countries), regarding the day after the war."

The source emphasized: "We are not only discussing the issue of governing Gaza; this is part of the whole... The Authority wants to advance a path that leads to a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem."

He stated that "there are discussions with influential Arab countries and Hamas." The United States is at the heart of these discussions," expressing his hope that "a ceasefire agreement in Gaza will lead the United States to adopt a political path (satisfied by the Arabs) that will ultimately lead to the establishment of a state and an end to the conflict."

"For the sake of statehood"

The source said that for the sake of establishing a state, "we (the PA) are prepared, and we have made major changes, and even Hamas is prepared to go the furthest point, not only to hand over the Strip and relinquish power, but also to hand over its weapons," he said.

Abu Mazen has begun making unprecedented changes to the structure of the Palestinian Authority since its inception, calling on the Central Council to create and appoint a deputy.

Appointing a deputy for the 90-year-old Abbas would be a clear message indicating a desire for profound changes within the Authority. The deputy, who is expected to have broad powers, serving as a "de facto president," would also head new security agencies and a relatively new government. The positions of the concerned parties regarding the governance of Gaza after the war reveal wide disagreements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects any Palestinian Authority presence in the Gaza Strip, considering it "weak and unqualified." Meanwhile, the Americans are discussing somewhat contradictory plans, while Arab countries are seeking to form forces and committees in which the Authority would initially participate before taking control of the Strip at a later date.

The recent increase in the activity of Palestinian forces and police on the ground in the West Bank has been notable. This includes, in addition to pursuing armed and wanted individuals, settling issues related to civilian life, such as conducting security campaigns, arrests, and campaigns to remove encroachments on roads. A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Authority is "regaining its presence and re-emerging its prestige."

European Support

While there appears to be a response to the significant change initiated by the Authority toward a new political phase, the European Commissioner for Middle East Affairs announced that the European Union intends to increase financial support to the Palestinian Authority with a package amounting to approximately 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion) over three years. Dubravka Suica, the EU's commissioner for the Mediterranean, told Reuters that the financial support would go hand in hand with reforms by the Palestinian Authority, which faces accusations of corruption and mismanagement from its critics. "We want them to reform themselves, because without reform, they won't be strong enough or trustworthy enough for dialogue, not only for us, but also for Israel," Suica said.