It is very clear that the Palestinians want an immediate end to the war in Gaza and it is essential that it ends now.
The main contribution that the Palestinians can make to speed up the end of the war is to ensure that Hamas will not be ruling Gaza when the war is over.
To my understanding, this can only happen with the establishment of a civilian, professional, technocrat government, headed by someone appointed by Mahmoud Abbas, but independent from Abbas.
The continuation of the Fatah-Hamas unity talks which were recently held in Cairo is a waste of time because Hamas rejects a government controlled by Fatah as much as Fatah rejects a government head by Hamas.
There are only a couple of Palestinian individuals who have the ability and the legitimacy to form a Palestinian government in Gaza which would be independent, clean, and aspires for peace with Israel based on two states established on the basis of the June 4, 1967 lines and is committed to bringing about the end of the occupation without the use of violence.
Furthermore, the individuals that could head the government of Gaza that I know, recognize that the Gaza government is temporary for as long is necessary (24-36 months) to create enough stability to conduct democratic elections for a unified Palestinian government with territorial integrity of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
A primary condition for Israel to end the war, and that would generate the political force in Israel to demand that Israel withdraws from all of Gaza begins with Hamas not ruling Gaza after the war. Releasing all of the hostages is another Israeli condition for ending the war. These things must be done in order for this horrific war to finally end.
The Palestinians themselves can move forward on the Gaza governance issue without any negotiations with Israel. This is entirely a Palestinian issue, and if they do it well, they will gain the support of the entire world which is absolutely necessary for the reconstruction of Gaza.
