The Return of Yasser Arafat's Niece's Son to the West Bank Carrying a Plan for Gaza After the War

SadaNews - Nasser Al-Qudwa, the son of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's sister, has returned to the West Bank after four years of voluntary exile, bringing with him a roadmap to ensure peace in the Gaza Strip while transforming Hamas into a political party. He announced his readiness to assist in governance.

Al-Qudwa, one of the most prominent critics of the current Palestinian leadership, called for a "serious confrontation of corruption in this country." He stated that the Fatah movement, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, needs deep reform and must exert more effort to confront the violence of Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

In an interview with Reuters, Al-Qudwa said, "The first duty... is to restore the trust of the street, which we have lost. We must have the courage to say that we no longer possess it, and without it, honestly, there is no benefit."

Al-Qudwa left the West Bank in 2021 after being expelled by the Fatah movement, founded by his uncle, due to his decision to present his own list in the elections, challenging Abbas, who canceled the vote.

Last week, Abbas (89 years old) readmitted Al-Qudwa to the Fatah movement after issuing a pardon for expelled members.

Pressure to Play a Role in Gaza

Al-Qudwa's return coincides with renewed pressures on Abbas to implement long-awaited reforms within the Palestinian Authority at a time when the authority is seeking to play a role in the Gaza Strip, which it lost to Hamas in 2007, despite Israeli objections and its marginalization in Donald Trump's presidential plan.

The future of governance in Gaza has become a point of interest with Trump's announcement of the end of the war. The next phase of the agreement addresses demands for the disarmament of Hamas and the end of its rule in Gaza, from which it launched the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, igniting the war.

Although Trump's proposal does not contain many details, it includes a vision to form a committee of Palestinian technocrats under international supervision to manage Gaza and deploy an international force to support a new Palestinian police force.

Depending on how Trump's plans evolve, Palestinian analysts say Al-Qudwa may play a role, citing his connections with Arab states, his communications with Hamas, and his status as Arafat's nephew, with roots in the Gaza Strip, as he was born in Khan Younis.

Al-Qudwa (72 years old) said, "If there is a need for me, I will not hesitate."

Encouraging Hamas to Political Transformation

Al-Qudwa's ideas center around the commitment of Hamas to end its administrative and security control over Gaza and to put its weapons under the authority of a new governing body. Hamas has declared its unwillingness to take a role in the government but has rejected disarming.

Al-Qudwa stated, "They must be given the opportunity to politically transform into a political party." He added that the resources currently held by the Palestinian Authority in Gaza should be utilized to form a new police force, and the identities of the current police officers in the sector can also be verified for assistance.

Guarantees for Hamas

Al-Qudwa said, "Hamas must realize that it is not under pursuit and that some of these employees will have another chance, that they will not be assassinated, and that they will have the opportunity to participate in political life."

He added that a Palestinian "Commission Board" could manage Gaza. While Abbas could appoint a president for this board, maintaining the link between the West Bank and Gaza, Al-Qudwa stated that he does not expect "the return of the (Palestinian) Authority as it is to govern Gaza."

He added that international supervision would be "good," but Gaza must be managed by Palestinians, and elections should be held, which last took place in 2006.

Al-Qudwa refrained from providing details about the corruption he referred to but said he is "amazed" by the extent it has reached.

Political analyst Hani Al-Masri, residing in Ramallah, responding to a question from Reuters about Al-Qudwa's return to the ranks of Fatah, said, "Nasser Al-Qudwa may be among the names suggested to play a role in managing Gaza, but this requires a change in approaches between Fatah and Hamas. There must be at least some form of Palestinian consensus."

He added, "If there is a Palestinian consensus, then yes, it is possible for Nasser to play a role in it. A person cannot play a successful role alone without consensus. The challenges are great, the most important of which is Israel, which does not want the Authority to return to Gaza."