Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone with Chief Commissioner of the NCAG (National Committee for the Administration of Gaza), Ali Shaath, to offer his condolences following the death of Shaath’s uncle, marking the first publicized conversation between the two since Shaath assumed his new role, PA official media Wafa reported on Tuesday.
Shaath, a former deputy minister for the PA, was reported to have thanked Abbas for the call, claiming it was impactful.
While the PA had initially opposed the US-backed NCAG, Ramallah agreed to work with the committee in a formal agreement signed in January.
Notably, the call came a day after Hamas announced the resignation of the governing Emergency Committee, allowing Shaath’s NCAG to take administrative control of the Gaza Strip.
Dr. Harel Chorev said the phone call was not a dramatic development, as Shaath and Abbas had likely had conversations not publicly declared to discuss the next steps in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas announces Emergency Committee resignation
“Most of this committee are PA-identified personnel and rely on the reputation and support of the PA for international legitimacy,” he highlighted.