Israel criticizes Palestinian President Abbas for agreements with Hamas on ceasefire in Gaza
Israel harshly criticizes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for his agreement with Hamas on a transitional government in Gaza. "Instead of rejecting terrorism, Mahmoud Abbas embraces the murderers and rapists of Hamas and reveals his true face," wrote Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on X online service. "In reality, this will not happen, as the Hamas rule will be crushed and Abbas will observe Gaza from a distance."
According to Chinese reports, 14 rival Palestinian factions, including the Islamist Hamas and the secular Fatah of Palestinian President Abbas, reached an agreement on a "transitional government" for the post-war period in Gaza beforehand. The most important point is the agreement on the formation of a "national transitional government for reconciliation," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday after the signing of the "Beijing Declaration". Representatives of Egypt, Algeria, and Russia were also present at the meeting.
While Hamas representative Musa Abu Marzouk confirmed the signing of the accord in Beijing, Fatah representative Mahmoud al-Aloul initially made no statements about an agreement with Hamas and other Palestinian groups.
The Palestinian Autonomy Authority governs in the Israeli-occupied West Bank but only has limited power there. In Gaza, the Islamist Hamas took control in 2007 and violently displaced the rival Fatah party. Israel completely withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
Neither Israel nor its close ally the United States accept Hamas' involvement in the post-war order for the Gaza Strip. Israel wants the Hamas to be dismantled after the unprecedented attack by radical Islamists on its territory on October 7, which triggered the war in Gaza.
- Despite Israel's criticisms, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas have agreed on a transitional government in Gaza, as reported by Chinese sources.
- The host conflict between Hamas and Fatah, led by Abbas and Abu Marzouk respectively, has led to Hamas' control in Gaza, causing tension in the post-war order that Israel and its ally, the United States, do not recognize.
- In response to the agreement, Israeli Foreign Minister Katz expressed his disapproval, claiming that Abbas' association with Hamas reveals his true intentions.
- The formation of this transitional government could potentially impact the power dynamics in Gaza, with Abbas potentially observing events from a distance if Hamas' rule is indeed crushed as suggested by Katz.
