PA President Abbas Condemns Hamas, Appeals for Release of Hostages
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday called on Hamas to disarm and transfer control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, as he prepares to name a successor under growing international scrutiny of the PA’s role in any postwar transition.
Speaking at the PLO Central Council in Ramallah, Abbas demanded that Hamas “hand over (its) Gaza responsibilities and hand over its arms to the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority and transform into a political party.” He warned that only by ending its military rule could Gaza’s governance be unified under the PA, which currently holds limited autonomy in the West Bank but was ousted from Gaza by Hamas in 2007.
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“The first priority is to stop the war of extermination in Gaza. It must be stopped—hundreds are being killed every day,” Abbas told the assembly in Arabic. “Why don’t you hand over the American hostages? Release those you’re holding and put an end to this story. Shut down their [Israel’s] excuses. End it.”
The remarks mark one of Abbas’s harshest public condemnations of Hamas to date, reflecting deepening divisions within the Palestinian leadership. They come as Western and Arab powers press him to name a deputy or successor—a step he has long resisted—to ensure leadership continuity and PA reform ahead of any future peace efforts. Delegates expect him to announce his choice at this week’s council meeting.
Amid his criticism of Hamas, Abbas also addressed the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza. He condemned Israel’s actions, warning of a looming “new Nakba”—a reference to the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948. “We reject this. It’s an inseparable part of our land—what’s happening in Gaza is also happening in Jenin, everywhere,” he said.
Egypt and Qatar are reportedly working on a framework that would include the release of all hostages, a multiyear truce, and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, Hamas has so far insisted it will only release hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal, and a long-term ceasefire.
