GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — “Where there’s smoke there’s fire," as the saying goes, and this applies to the national consensus government led by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, following its denial of the leaked news about its possible resignation.

On the evening of June 17, Nemer Hamad, political adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, announced that Hamdallah had submitted his resignation to Abbas. Meanwhile, Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina denied that Hamdallah was submitting his resignation. And national consensus government spokesman Ihab Bseiso told Al-Monitor, “The prime minister did not submit his resignation, but the talk about the challenges faced by the government began a year into its formation.”

Bseiso added that the government is going through critical times. Several ministers are wearing more than one hat, and Economy Minister Mohammed Mustafa turned in his resignation in March. This increases the number of basic tasks assigned to the caretaker government — namely, putting an end to the effects of the political divide and preparing for the legislative and presidential elections.

“Six months into the formation of the government, some of the greatest challenges hindered its work, namely the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. Therefore, the government had to focus on reconstruction and supporting the people of the Gaza Strip,” Bseiso added.