Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday strongly urged Hamas to release the remaining hostages in Gaza, asserting that their continued detention is the primary justification for Israel’s military actions in the territory.
Speaking at a meeting in Ramallah, Abbas stated, “Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, the most prominent being the holding of hostages.”
He emphasised the heavy cost paid by the Palestinian people, saying, “I’m the one paying the price, our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over.”
Abbas specifically cited the case of American hostage Edan Alexander, reportedly included on a list of hostages Israel sought to have released, a proposal Hamas recently rejected.
He harshly criticised Hamas, demanding they “hand over what you have and get us out of this situation.
Hamas official Bassem Naim condemned Abbas’s remarks as “insulting,” accusing him of using “derogatory language” against his people and “suspiciously” blaming Palestinians for Israel’s actions.
The relationship between Abbas’ Fatah party and Hamas has been characterised by deep political and ideological divisions for nearly twenty years.
The Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas, frequently accuses Hamas of hindering Palestinian unity, while Hamas criticises Abbas for cooperating with Israel and suppressing dissent in the West Bank.
