The Palestinian Authority’s President Called Hamas "Sons Of Dogs" And Demanded It Release The Hostages
Mahmoud Abbas accused Hamas of giving Israel excuses to prolong the war in Gaza by not releasing the hostages, saying that Palestinians are the ones paying the price.
The President of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, called Hamas “sons of dogs” and demanded that it release the hostages to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
In a meeting in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on April 23, Mahmoud Abbas accused Hamas of giving Israel excuses to prolong the war in Gaza by not releasing the hostages, saying that Palestinians are the ones paying the price.
“Every day there are hundreds killed. Son of dogs, hand over whoever you have and end this matter,” he said.
Hamas and Fatah, Abbas’ political party which dominates the PA, have been in a rivalry for more than 20 years.
In the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, Hamas won a surprise victory over Fatah, dramatically shifting the balance of power within Palestinian politics and igniting the rivalry.
By June 2007, after months of escalating violence and failed efforts at unity, Hamas expelled Fatah and the PA from the Gaza Strip to establish its own de facto administration and leaving the PA controlling only the West Bank.
Many Palestinians, especially the younger generation, view the PA as ineffective in both confronting Israeli aggression and providing humanitarian or political leadership, with more than 84% of Palestinians wanting Abbas to resign, according to a poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.
Abbas said that Hamas' keeping the hostages gives Israel "justifications" to continue its war in Gaza.
He called for Hamas to disarm and transform into a political entity under the authority of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the PA.
Hamas refused on April 17 a new deal presented by Israel, which included a 45-day truce, Hamas releasing 10 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners and discussions about Hamas disarming, Reuters reported.
The deal did not include Israel ending its war on Gaza or Israeli troops withdrawing from the Strip.
Hamas said it is ready to negotiate the release of all remaining hostages, but only in return for an end to Israel’s war, the release of Palestinians jailed by Israel and the reconstruction of Gaza.
Hamas officials criticized Abbas’ comments, saying it is “insulting,” Al Jazeera reported.
“Abbas repeatedly and suspiciously lays the blame for the crimes of the occupation and its ongoing aggression on our people,” Hamas said.
Cherry Mohamed
Isha Jain
