President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority has appointed a new prime minister, Muhammad Mustafa, who is a close economic adviser. This decision has been made despite international pressure to appoint an independent prime minister. Mr. Mustafa has been given three weeks to form a new government, with the possibility of an additional two weeks if needed. The priorities of the new government include providing humanitarian aid to people in Gaza, reconstructing what has been destroyed during the war between Israel and Hamas, and reuniting Palestinian governing structures in the West Bank and the coastal enclave. The Palestinian Authority has limited governing powers on the West Bank and lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007. The United States has been calling for an overhaul of the Palestinian Authority, while Israel has rejected any such role for the authority. The Biden administration has expressed hope for an independent figure who is acceptable to ordinary Palestinians, the international community, and Israel. This information was reported by The New York Times.
