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Hamas condemns Abbas for remarks on hostage situation in Gaza
Hamas has strongly criticized recent comments made by Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, who urged the group to release Israeli hostages and disarm. Senior Hamas member Basem Naim described Abbas’s statements as offensive and accused him of unjustly blaming the group for the ongoing violence in Gaza.
During a Wednesday meeting in Ramallah, Abbas stated that holding captives gave Israel justification for continued attacks on Gaza. He stressed that the Palestinian people, not Israel, were bearing the consequences. Using a harsh Arabic phrase, he implored Hamas to release the captives and end the suffering.
Tensions between Abbas’s Fatah party and Hamas have persisted for nearly two decades. While Abbas often criticizes Hamas for fostering division, Hamas accuses the PA of working with Israel and suppressing opposition in the West Bank.
The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, which broke away from Fatah years ago, also condemned Abbas’s comments, calling them disrespectful to the resistance and the sacrifices of Palestinian fighters and prisoners. They criticized the PA’s stance for criminalizing resistance and overlooking Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
The movement demanded an apology from Abbas and urged him to stop policies that deepen internal divisions and align with Israeli interests. They called for unity and a return to serving the will of the Palestinian people.
Meanwhile, Israel's military campaign in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 1,928 more people since operations resumed on March 18, bringing the overall death toll to over 51,300, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Peace talks remain stalled, though a Hamas delegation is currently in Cairo for renewed negotiations.
