Abbas Calls for Hamas Disarmament Amidst Ongoing Conflict

In a recent address, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas did not hold back in his criticism of Hamas, labeling them derogatorily as "sons of dogs." This marked a significant escalation in his rhetoric, as he urged for the liberation of Israeli hostages and called for Hamas to disarm, insisting that their actions justified the Israeli military attacks against Gaza.

Abbas emphasized that halting the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip was essential, describing it as a form of "genocide." He argued that the hostages held by Hamas provide Israel with a pretext for its military actions, stating publicly that Hamas must eliminate these justifications by releasing the captives. Despite his strong words against Hamas, he has not directly condemned the group's attacks on October 7.

In his speech, he put forth a vision for a Palestinian state and reiterated the urgency of ending the hostilities in Gaza. He expressed a desire for Palestinian factions to unify under the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and called for Hamas to relinquish its control over Gaza, suggesting that the group transition into a political entity that adheres to the laws and international standards governing state behavior.

Abbas accused Hamas of causing significant harm to the Palestinian cause since it took control of Gaza in 2007. He suggested that the group's actions have inadvertently provided Israel with justifications for its military operations, particularly through the tactic of hostage-taking.

Hamas responded to Abbas' criticisms by questioning his leadership abilities and accusing him of unfairly blaming them for the consequences of the ongoing conflict with Israel. Meanwhile, Abbas called on the international community to enforce existing UN Security Resolutions and to convene an international peace conference to address the situation.

The long-standing conflict between Hamas and Fatah has seen numerous failed attempts at reconciliation. Since Hamas' ascent to power in Gaza in 2006, the Palestinian Authority (PA) has maintained governance over the West Bank. Despite a reconciliation agreement in 2017 and attempts to form a unity government, political division persists, exacerbated by incidents like the assassination attempt on PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in 2018, highlighting ongoing tensions between the two factions.