Palestinian official worries US ‘replicating’ PM’s strategy of boosting Hamas at PA’s expense

A senior Palestinian Authority (PA) official expressed concern on Tuesday that the United States is replicating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy of bolstering Hamas at the expense of the PA. The remarks followed a rare meeting between US envoy Jared Kushner and Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt, after which Kushner traveled to Jerusalem to meet with Netanyahu without visiting Ramallah. The official, speaking anonymously, stated that the PA plays a critical role in stabilizing Gaza and the West Bank and should not be sidelined. He recalled how previous Netanyahu governments authorized Qatari payments to Hamas, which he argued strengthened the terror group while Jerusalem delegitimized the moderate PA. In a Fox News interview, Kushner dismissed the possibility of recognizing a Palestinian state for now, asserting that the PA falls short of the standards required for statehood and must undergo significant reforms. The Palestinian official countered that Ramallah is working on these reforms but is being severely hampered by punitive measures from Netanyahu’s government, including the withholding of billions of dollars in funds, which has brought the West Bank economy to the brink of collapse.