On January 28th, 80 graduates of Geneva Initiative programs met with a senior Palestinian journalist and head of a Ramallah-based news agency. The discussion provided valuable insights into Palestinian perspectives on the hostage release and prisoner exchange deal, as well as broader political trends in Palestinian society.
The conversation explored key differences between the West Bank and Gaza and the prospects for establishing a new leadership in Gaza based on cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. Participants also discussed the potential implications of Donald Trump’s return to the White House and emerging opportunities for regional cooperation. A key takeaway was the understanding that Israel must engage meaningfully with the Palestinian issue—beyond mere symbolic gestures—in order to advance normalization efforts with Saudi Arabia.
The journalist’s message was clear: there is an opportunity for Gaza to be governed by entities other than Hamas, but this depends on Israel’s willingness to strengthen pragmatic Palestinian factions, particularly the Palestinian Authority.
The meeting was facilitated by Yariv Oppenheimer from the Geneva Initiative team.
