An internal political deadlock between Fatah and Hamas and the crisis with Israel have taken center stage in the Palestinian arena. Meanwhile, there has been increasing talk about the successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as a consequence of reports on his deteriorating health.

Amid this situation, Palestinian medical chemist and businessman Adnan Mjalli visited the Gaza Strip in January and July, met with Hamas leaders, held a series of public and official meetings and events and then launched his political initiative to end the Palestinian rift. Mjalli obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Exeter in the UK, registered over 700 patents and developed medicines aimed at treating chronic diseases such as diabetes and Alzheimer's.

Mjalli has built his long business career both in the United States and the Palestinian territories. He founded TransTech Pharma, a US medical research firm, and he is the CEO of Mjalli Investment Group USA, which includes several companies that operate in Palestine and the United States. He also founded the Adnan Mjalli Educational Society in the West Bank to support and help outstanding Palestinian university students complete their education.

During a visit to Gaza on June 30, Al-Monitor met with Mjalli, who showed concern about the so-called "deal of the century" — the US administration's forthcoming Mideast peace plan — claiming it aims at separating the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and entrenching self-rule in the West Bank.