By Joke Kujenya
MAHMOUD ABBAS has issued a blistering condemnation of Hamas, urging the group to release hostages and disarm in order to bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In an impassioned speech to the Palestinian Authority’s Central Council in Ramallah, Abbas described Hamas as “sons of dogs” and demanded that they cease hostilities and surrender control of Gaza to the Palest inian Authority (PA).
His comments came as the war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, enters its 18th month.
For the first time since the start of the conflict, Abbas openly called for Hamas to relinquish its weapons and disband its military wing, proposing that the group transform into a political party.
Abbas, who has led the PA since 2004, emphasised that the continued captivity of hostages was serving as an “excuse” for Israel to prolong its offensive in Gaza.
He pointed out that Hamas’s refusal to release the remaining hostages – particularly those with American citizenship – was prolonging the suffering of civilians on both sides.
“Sons of dogs, release the hostages and end the matter,” he said, adding that ending the war was essential to stopping the daily deaths.
In his speech, Abbas also outlined his vision for the future, which includes lifting the Israeli blockade on Gaza, halting the displacement of Palestinians, and working with Arab nations to defend the “Palestinian cause”.
His condemnation of Hamas came amid growing frustration over their control of Gaza, which they seized from the PA in 2007 following a civil conflict.
Despite his vocal criticism of Hamas, Abbas did not spare Israel from blame, describing its military actions as a “pretext to destroy Gaza” following Hamas’s 2007 takeover.
He cautioned that the ongoing violence could lead to a “new Nakba,” referring to the mass displacement of Palestinians in 1948.
The call for Hamas to disarm is a significant shift in Abbas’s rhetoric, as it marks the first time he has publicly pushed for the group’s military capabilities to be dismantled.
However, Hamas responded to his remarks by condemning what it called “derogatory language” and accusing him of siding with Israel.
The speech also coincided with the release of a video by Hamas showing one of the remaining hostages, Israeli-Hungarian Omri Miran, held in an underground tunnel.
The ongoing crisis has exacerbated humanitarian conditions in Gaza, with the United Nations warning of critical shortages of food, medicine, and other essential supplies due to the Israeli blockade.
