Interview/ Dr Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, chargé d’affaires of the Palestine embassy in India
War-torn Gaza, once home to Yasser Arafat, dreamt of self governance for the Palestinian territories. This time, its people are looking towards the Palestinian Authority to play a bigger role in helping implement the phased Israel-Hamas ceasefire, rebuilding territory and uniting Palestinians.
Sitting pensively in the Palestine embassy in New Delhi, chargé d’affaires of the embassy Dr Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer’s heart seems as desolate as Gaza is today. He hails from Rafah city in the southern Gaza strip, 15 minutes from the border with Egypt. His 90-year-old father was displaced to Khan Younis, where thousands of internally displaced families have taken refuge. He tells The WEEK that Egypt, Qatar, the United States and other stakeholders are working together in a joint operation room in Cairo to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire. It is here that New Delhi can step in and extend humanitarian assistance to the war-torn region. Excerpts from an interview:
Q/ The ceasefire is a phased process. There will be cessation of violence, exchange of prisoners, withdrawal of troops and increased access to humanitarian aid. Are you also hopeful of a dialogue?
A/ People on the ground are glad that there will be no more bombing and killing. They dream to return to their homes.... But you cannot recognise the area.... Everything is destroyed.
But yes, the ceasefire has three phases to complete over six weeks. There may be challenges along the way. The main countries―Egypt, Qatar, the United States and other stakeholders―that have been working hard to reach this ceasefire have created a joint operation room in Cairo to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire. Every day, at least 600 trucks are supposed to reach Gaza with food and aid. There will be exchange of prisoners from both sides. The Israelis first announced the release of 730 prisoners, another 200 will follow. Some have got life imprisonment by the courts and some others were arrested after October 7, 2023. So there will be technical challenges. Hamas and Israel will have to implement the deal with the continuous support of the Trump administration.
Q/ You were press adviser to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. You have seen its role changing with Hamas’s victory in 2006. Are there any lessons?
A/ There are more than 14 Palestinian parties and one of them is Hamas. The representative for the Palestinians is the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the communities who work with international communities at different multilateral forums. PA President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed Hamas to be part of the elections in 2006 and the latter won the elections. The United States refused to recognise the results. The question arose whether Hamas as a movement will recognise Israel. The PLO had already recognised Israel through the Oslo Accords in 1993. The PLO had also participated in the Madrid Conference in 1991. So, historically, we already have a representative for Palestinian people. To expect all Palestinian movements to recognise Israel is not possible, with different parties adopting different stands. This has been the problem in our political system. When Hamas took Gaza out of PA, we called Hamas for a national dialogue many times. I closely followed the negotiations led by Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in Cairo between 2010 and 2013, when efforts were made to bring the Palestinians together and Hamas was called upon to be part of the Palestinian national system under the PLO umbrella.
The American position has also been complex. Though US president Bill Clinton recognised the Palestinian cause, the Trump administration, in its first term, closed the PLO office in Washington in 2018. We listen to the world on many issues, but we must recognise that this is also our internal issue and we must solve it by building unity, common strategy and foreign policy for the Palestinian people.
Q/ Do you see the PA expanding its role from West Bank to Gaza and playing a bigger role in the region?
A/ Mahmoud Abbas was the PLO negotiator when the Oslo Accords was signed. Both sides agreed that a Palestinian Authority would be established and assume governing responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over a five-year period. So, Gaza became the centre point when Yasser Arafat became president of the newly created PA. Recently, president Abbas has announced special initiatives for Gaza and services of all his ministries to be extended to all municipalities in Gaza. So any plans to cut Gaza out will fail. Whether it is foreign policy or political systems, we need to defend our people together. Without a political solution based on the establishment of a Palestinian state, escalation will continue in the Middle East. To work in isolation is not good for our new generation. It is not good for business. It is not good for our future.
Q/ What are the expectations from India in the short term and long term?
A/ With the United Nations urging the international community to work towards a two-state solution to end the Palestine-Israel conflict, we need India’s support more than ever. We want to see the Indian flag in Gaza, through Indian projects like hospitals, medical care, food, schools, thereby helping rebuild Gaza. We want to invite the Indian government, NGOs, companies, civil society to help in reconstruction and extend medical support for affected women and children of Gaza. Almost all of Gaza is destroyed and it will take 25-30 years to rebuild it. Besides humanitarian assistance, Indian companies coming to Gaza can create business opportunities.
Q/ How do you see the role of the Trump government going forward?
A/ The experience with the Biden administration was bad because they gave full support to Israel.... But President Trump is playing a major role in stopping the war. The credit goes to him for fulfilling his promise made during the campaign. We hope President Trump ensures the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, peace process and takes forward the dream of a separate Palestinian state. The US president has already announced a special representative from his administration to follow up on the ceasefire deal. The special representative has met the prime minister of Qatar and I believe he plans to visit Gaza. We hope to have international support to ensure full withdrawal of Israel troops from Gaza. Because if they are in Gaza, the resistance will continue.