Speaking at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa on Saturday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a forceful appeal for Israel to remove what he characterized as deliberate obstructions hindering the implementation of the second phase of the US-backed Gaza ceasefire. The address, delivered on his behalf by Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, underscored escalating tensions surrounding the fragile truce that took effect in October.
Abbas explicitly accused Israel of persistent violations of the agreement, stating that these actions have resulted in more than 500 Palestinian fatalities since the ceasefire was announced. He emphasized that these casualties directly threaten the durability of the truce and the successful execution of its subsequent phases. The Palestinian leader identified the removal of Israeli-imposed obstacles as essential to ensuring the continuity of humanitarian services, coordinating aid efforts, and enabling a swift recovery in the devastated territory.
Central to the dispute is the operation of a technocratic committee established to oversee Gaza’s day-to-day governance. Abbas revealed that fifteen Palestinian experts appointed to this committee remain based in Egypt, unable to fully assume their duties despite the partial reopening of the Rafah border crossing on February 2. This crossing represents Gaza’s sole access point to the outside world that doesn’t transit through Israeli territory.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United States and endorsed by the United Nations in November, stipulates that its second phase requires the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza alongside the disarmament of Hamas, with an international stabilization force deployed to ensure security. However, the implementation has stalled amid mutual accusations of violations. Hamas maintains that complete disarmament represents a ‘red line,’ though the group has indicated potential willingness to transfer weapons to a future Palestinian governing authority. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues to control over half of the Gaza Strip, with both sides trading daily allegations of ceasefire breaches.