By Muhammad Abubakar
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called on Hamas to release all remaining hostages and relinquish control of the Gaza Strip, in a rare and direct rebuke of the group.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Abbas said that Hamas’s actions had not only deepened the suffering of Palestinians but also provided Israel with “excuses to commit its crimes.”
“Hamas must take responsibility for its decisions and the consequences they have brought upon our people,” Abbas said. “They must release all hostages and step aside to allow for national unity and reconstruction.”
The statement comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza and heightened international pressure to reach a ceasefire and address the humanitarian crisis. Abbas’s remarks reflect growing tensions between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007.
There was no immediate response from Hamas to the comments.