Palestinian Authority

The Palestinian Authority (PA) is the self-governing body established in 1994 to administer parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Recent news highlights the PA's efforts to preserve Palestinian cultural heritage by submitting 14 sites to UNESCO, aiming to protect them from Israeli appropriation amidst ongoing conflict. Simultaneously, the PA is indirectly involved in discussions surrounding the future governance of Gaza. The US is spearheading a 'Board of Peace' initiative, aiming to establish a new administration in Gaza, potentially replacing Hamas with a technocratic leadership. Figures like Nickolay Mladenov are tasked with disarming Gaza and engaging with Palestinian factions. The PA's role in this new framework remains unclear, but the US-backed technocrat Ali Shaath announced the reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt. These developments underscore the PA's continued relevance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its potential role in future peace negotiations and governance structures.