On Friday, the president of the Palestinian authority, Mahmoud Abbas, published a statement condemning Israel on his military offensive in the Gaza Strip, but also denouncing the leaders of Hamas of the enclave for a looting of humanitarian aid.
The declaration published to the official AP news agency said that Abbas “had expressed its categorical rejection and its firm conviction of looting and theft made by criminal gangs targeting warehouses and storage of humanitarian aid designated for the inhabitants of Gaza.”
He added that the AP “held mainly responsible Hamas gangs, noting that the Palestinian people will not forgive these shameful acts committed in such a critical moment, especially in the besieged band”.
Last month, Abbas made the headlines by calling Hamas “Sons of Dogs”, demanding that the terrorist group releases hostages which he holds to eliminate what he said was the pretext of Israel to continue his war in Gaza.
“The first priority is to stop the war of extermination in Gaza. It must be arrested – hundreds are killed every day,” said Abbas in a speech. “Why not put back the American hostages?”
Addressing Hamas as “Sons of Dogs”, the president of the AP said to the terrorist group to “liberate those you will hold and end this story. Stop their apologies. Finish it ”.
A USAID logo is visible on a box in the middle of the dispersed remains of boxes and materials left by looters after generalized vandalism and looting after the clashes at the World Food Program (WFP) in Bukavu on February 21, 2025. (Luis Tato / AFP)
He also called on Hamas to yield Gaza control to the AP, to abandon arms and become a political party.
“Hamas must submit the responsibilities of Gaza and put its arms to the responsibility of the Palestinian Authority and turn into a political party,” said Abbas.
Hamas has refused calls in recent months by Israel and the United States to put its arms.
Abbas made these remarks during a speech at the opening of the meeting of the central council of the PLO.
The head of the PA previously criticized the attack led by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, which, according to him, gave Israel a pretext to destroy Gaza. Hamas has led more than 5,000 terrorists to invade southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mainly civilians and removing 251 hostages.
Abbas and the AP have often accused Hamas of having undermined Palestinian unity, while Hamas criticized the AP for having collaborated with Israel and reprimanded the dissident in the West Bank.
The links between the Abbas Fatah Party and Hamas are held, with deep political and ideological divisions for almost two decades. In 2007, Hamas grabbed Gaza to control the AP in a bloody coup, and the two factions remained on a daily basis despite the repeated reconciliation efforts.
Nitrit Yohanan contributed to this report.
