Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Rami Hamdallah believes that a nonviolent struggle is a better option to get rid of the Israeli occupation.
Speaking to Arab News during an exclusive interview, he said the idea of nonviolent resistance has gained greater support after the Gaza disaster.
“We are not equal to Israel in terms of military might, and therefore, we — President Mahmoud Abbas and my government — believe that nonviolent resistance is a good way to get rid of this occupation,” he said.
Reiterating his point, Hamdallah said: “We have good and successful examples in India with Gandhi and South Africa with Mandela.”
Stating that Gaza has been reduced to a rubble, he said a donor conference for its reconstruction will take place in Egypt next month.
“All members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have agreed to attend the Gaza Reconstruction Conference,” he said. “It will take place early September.”
Painting a very dark picture of life in Gaza, he said: “There is no electricity, no water, no sanitation, no infrastructure — nothing. More than 30,000 homes, mosques and churches have been destroyed. It is a disaster.”
On the total cost of reconstructing Gaza, the prime minister said a Cabinet committee had been established to assess the damage.
“Before the end of this month, we will have the rough estimates, but, for sure, it will run into billions of dollars,” he said.
He slammed Israel for not recognizing the unity government. “The whole world recognizes our government as the legitimate representatives of the Palestinians, except Israel,” he said. “In this government, all ministers are technocrats. They do not belong to any faction.”
Hamdallah said Israel was inciting trouble in Jerusalem.
“They are trying to divide the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque between Muslims and Jews,” he said. “This is very dangerous and alarming.”
He said Palestinians have the capacity to turn their country into the Singapore of the Arab world if they are able to throw off the yoke of occupation.
“We Palestinians have excellent natural resources and human resources. We have petrol and gas. We have engineers, doctors and entrepreneurs. We are ready to build our country. But first, this occupation must end,” he said.
• Full Interview: Occupation must end, says Palestinian PM
