Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called Hamas “sons of dogs” and called for the disarmament of the group and the release of the Israeli hostages, CNN reported.
He called for stopping the “Israeli genocide that the Gaza Strip is being subjected to” a top priority. He said that the hostages present an excuse for Israel to attack the Gaza Strip.
In a televised speech from Ramallah on Wednesday, Abbas said, “Sons of dogs, release the hostages and block their justifications.”
Israel has rejected accusations of genocide, stressing that it is fighting the war in Gaza in self-defence and targets Hamas.
Abbas’ remarks are the strongest public criticism of Hamas to date and come amid a renewed push to advance ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Egypt also suggesting the disarmament of the group recently, CNN reported.
Abbas has not outrightly condemned Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, however, he has slammed Hamas for it in the past and reiterated his condemnation of attacks against civilians.
He also outlined a vision to create a Palestinian state and demanded an end to the war in Gaza and renewed calls for the unification of Palestinian political factions under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). He also called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
He said, “Hamas must end its control over the Gaza Strip, hand over all its affairs to the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the legitimate Palestinian National Authority, and refrain from carrying arms, transforming into a political party that operates according to the laws of the Palestinian state and adheres to international legitimacy.”
In his address, Abbas accused Hamas of inflicting “severe damage to the Palestinian cause” since it took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. (ANI)
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