Palestinian PM calls for global pressure after Gaza ceasefire

Mohammed Mustafa urges international efforts for a Palestinian state post-truce negotiations in Gaza.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa attends a press conference in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, on October 8, 2024. Photo by Zain Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

By Widya Putri and Clarisa Sendy

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa has called on the international community to sustain pressure on Israel following an anticipated ceasefire in Gaza. Mustafa emphasized that such pressure is vital for achieving a two-state solution and ensuring the creation of a Palestinian state. His comments come amid a critical phase of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with mediators in Doha reportedly close to finalizing a truce agreement.

“The ceasefire we're discussing is the result of international pressure, demonstrating its effectiveness,” Mustafa said at a conference in Oslo on Wednesday. “Israel must be shown that veto power over peace and Palestinian statehood is unacceptable and will no longer be tolerated.”

The remarks were made at the third meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. This event, held in Oslo, brought together representatives from over 80 states and organizations to discuss pathways to peace.

While Mustafa acknowledged the importance of a ceasefire, he stressed that it is only a starting point. "A truce is necessary but insufficient. We need to use it as a stepping stone to greater security, humanitarian assistance, and reopening Gaza’s border crossings," he stated following discussions with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide echoed Mustafa's sentiments, emphasizing that a ceasefire is merely a prerequisite for lasting peace. “The ultimate goal is a two-state solution. Since Israel already exists as one state, it’s time to establish Palestine as the other,” Eide said.

Despite the international push, analysts argue that the prospects for a two-state solution are increasingly dim. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with strong backing from US President-elect Donald Trump, has opposed the creation of a Palestinian state.

However, Mustafa expressed optimism about engaging with the incoming US administration. “We are hopeful about advancing our peace agenda in collaboration with the new administration,” he said, despite acknowledging significant challenges ahead.

Israel, notably absent from the Oslo meeting, remains at odds with several European nations that have recognized Palestinian statehood, including Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia. Norway’s decision last May to recognize Palestine further strained its relationship with Israel.

A nod to history

The meeting in Oslo carried symbolic weight, taking place in the same city hall where Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin, and Shimon Peres received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for their roles in the Oslo Accords. These agreements laid the groundwork for Palestinian autonomy with the goal of eventual statehood.

Reflecting on this history, Mustafa remarked, “The vision of peace laid out in the Oslo Accords must not fade. It is imperative that we renew our commitment to a just and lasting solution for both peoples.”

As ceasefire talks progress and international discussions continue, the path forward remains fraught with challenges, but Mustafa's call underscores the urgency for global action to achieve lasting peace.

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