Palestinian President Abbas criticizes Hamas
Palestinian President Abbas holds Hamas responsible for escalation. The Hamas refuses national unity and provides Israel with justifications as an occupying power. With these accusations, the differences among Palestinians continue to grow.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accuses Hamas of shared responsibility for the Gaza War and highlights growing differences among Palestinians in a statement released by his office in the West Bank. The Hamas refuses national unity and provides Israel with justifications, acting as an occupying power, according to the statement. Thus, Hamas is complicit in the continuation of the war.
Abbas confirmed his accusations against Hamas. In mid-May, the Palestinian president accused Hamas of providing Israel with "pretexts" for the military action in the Gaza Strip. The attack on October 7, which Hamas initiated based on a unilateral decision, provided Israel with "further pretexts and justifications" to attack the Gaza Strip "and kill and displace hundreds of thousands of people," Abbas said at an Arab League summit in Bahrain.
Abbas condemns Israeli attack on Khan Younis
According to Palestinian reports, at least 71 people were killed and 289 more were injured in an Israeli air raid on Khan Younis. Later, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry raised the death toll to 90 fatalities and 300 injuries. According to Israeli government sources, the attack targeted the commander of Hamas' military wing, Mohammed Deif. Abbas condemned the Israeli air raid on Khan Younis, holding the US, as supporters of Israel, responsible as well.
On October 7, hundreds of Hamas members, designated as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US, infiltrated Israel, and committed atrocities mainly against civilians. According to Israeli reports, 1,140 people were killed and approximately 250 more were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. Israel declared war on Hamas in response and has since launched massive attacks on the Gaza Strip. According to Hamas reports, over 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive initiated as a reaction to the attack. The figures could not be independently verified at first.
The unpopular Abbas, who is tempered and advocates a two-state solution, heads the Autonomy Authority and the secular Fatah faction within the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Fatah and Hamas are the two largest Palestinian organizations - and bitter rivals. Some Fatah party representatives expressed understanding for Hamas' brutal terrorist attack in Israel. Reconciliation talks between the two groups have been ongoing for several years.
Despite the ongoing reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas, the rift between the two organizations continues to impact Palestinian politics. Mahmud Abbas, the leader of Fatah and the Autonomy Authority, has publicly criticized Hamas for its role in the Israel-Gazastrip conflict. Abbas blames Hamas for provoking Israel with unprovoked attacks, ultimately justifying Israel's response as a hostile power. He has denounced Hamas' actions, calling them a violation of international law and peace efforts. This divide within the Palestinian community further complicates the host-conflict situation, hindering any potential progress towards a sustainable resolution.
