PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT DEMANDS HAMAS RELEASE HOSTAGES TO END WAR WITH ISRAEL

RAMALLAH — In an unprecedented and fiery speech delivered in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has harshly criticized Hamas, demanding that the militant group release all remaining hostages, disarm, and relinquish control of Gaza to end the ongoing war with Israel.

During a meeting in Ramallah, Abbas used unusually strong language, referring to Hamas members as "sons of dogs" while accusing the group of providing Israel with "excuses" to continue its devastating military campaign in Gaza which began after the events of October 7th, 2023. 

"Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, the most prominent being the holding of hostages," Abbas declared. "Sons of dogs, just release whoever you're holding and be done with it. Shut down their excuses and spare us."

The Palestinian Authority leader further insisted that Hamas must "hand over" responsibility for Gaza and surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority, transitioning into a purely political party.

In response, a Hamas official condemned Abbas's "derogatory language" toward what he described as "a significant proportion... of his own people."

This heated exchange comes just days after Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal for a new ceasefire that would have included a six-week pause in fighting and the release of 10 of the 59 remaining hostages in exchange for Hamas disarming. Hamas instead reiterated its position that it would only release all hostages in exchange for a complete end to the war and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas and his Fatah movement, has governed only parts of the West Bank since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, following its victory in legislative elections the previous year. While the PA has consistently stated its readiness to assume governance of post-war Gaza, it has faced criticism from Palestinians for what many see as insufficient advocacy and ineffective action during the current conflict.

Abbas's unusually harsh rhetoric signals growing tensions between the rival Palestinian factions as international pressure mounts for a resolution to the conflict.

Earlier this year, Israeli forces arrested at least 365 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank during Israel’s large-scale incursion, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society.