Palestinian Authority President Abbas Condemns Hamas, Calls for Hostage Release and Disarmament Amid Gaza Conflict

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas criticized Hamas in a public address from Ramallah, calling them “sons of dogs” and demanding the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Abbas accused Hamas of justifying Israel's military actions in Gaza and urged them to disarm and transfer control to the Palestinian Authority. His remarks highlight escalating tensions within Palestinian factions amid international efforts for a ceasefire. Hamas rejected Abbas's comments, maintaining their stance against disarmament and linking hostage release to Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Abbas’s Sharpest Rebuke Yet

In a televised speech delivered at a meeting of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah, Abbas, 89, condemned Hamas in unusually blunt terms. “Sons of dogs, just release whoever you're holding and be done with it. Shut down their excuses and spare us,” he said, referring to the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Abbas accused Hamas of giving Israel “excuses” to continue its military operations in the besieged enclave. “Hamas has given the criminal occupation excuses to commit its crimes in the Gaza Strip, the most prominent being the holding of hostages,” he said. “I’m the one paying the price, our people are paying the price, not Israel. My brother, just hand them over.”

The Palestinian leader also demanded that Hamas “end its control over the Gaza Strip, hand over all its affairs to the Palestine Liberation Organization 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.”

A Call for Disarmament and Unity

Abbas’s speech laid out a broader vision for Palestinian political unification and statehood. He reiterated his call for Hamas to disarm and integrate into the political system under the umbrella of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). “Talk to us instead of the Americans,” he said, urging Hamas to engage in intra-Palestinian dialogue.

He also called on the international community to implement past United Nations Security Council resolutions and convene an international peace conference. “Our vision for achieving peace in the Middle East is based on ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a state,” Abbas said.

The Palestinian Authority president emphasized that the war must end, citing the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. “Our top priority is to stop Israel’s war of annihilation and to ensure the occupation withdraws from the entire Strip,” he said, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of using the war to maintain political power.

Hamas Responds with Condemnation

Hamas swiftly rejected Abbas’s remarks, accusing him of undermining Palestinian unity and siding with Israel. In a statement, the group questioned Abbas’s “competence,” saying he “insists, repeatedly and suspiciously, on placing the responsibility for the crimes of the occupation and its ongoing aggression on our Palestinian people.”

Bassem Naim, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, criticized Abbas for using “derogatory language” against “a significant and integral part of his own people.” He added that Abbas’s comments were “irresponsible” and “divisive.”

Hamas reiterated its position that it would release all hostages in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. However, the group firmly rejected calls for disarmament, stating that it would not give up its weapons.

A History of Division

The rift between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority dates back to 2007, when Hamas seized control of Gaza following a brief civil conflict with Fatah, the dominant faction in the PA. Since then, the PA has governed only parts of the West Bank, while Hamas has maintained de facto rule over Gaza.

Efforts to reconcile the two factions have repeatedly failed. A 2017 unity agreement brokered in Cairo collapsed after an assassination attempt on then-PA Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah during a visit to Gaza. More recently, reconciliation talks hosted by China in 2023 led to a symbolic agreement, but no substantive progress has been made.

Abbas’s latest remarks reflect growing frustration within the PA over Hamas’s continued hold on Gaza and its role in the current conflict with Israel. The PA has long expressed readiness to assume control of Gaza in a post-war scenario, but its credibility among Palestinians has been undermined by years of political stagnation and allegations of corruption.

War and Humanitarian Crisis

The backdrop to Abbas’s speech is the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, which began after the October 7, 2023, cross-border attack by Hamas that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Since then, more than 51,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since early March 2025, halting all humanitarian and commercial deliveries. The United Nations has warned that the blockade has deprived Gaza’s 2.1 million residents of basic necessities, including food, medicine, and clean water. Malnutrition and disease are reportedly on the rise.

On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany issued a joint statement urging Israel to lift the blockade and allow the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid. Israel, however, maintains that it is acting in accordance with international law and that sufficient aid was delivered during a previous ceasefire to sustain the population.

International Mediation and Ceasefire Talks

Abbas’s remarks come amid renewed international efforts to broker a ceasefire. Egypt has reportedly floated a proposal that includes Hamas’s disarmament in exchange for a phased Israeli withdrawal and the release of hostages. However, Hamas has rejected any deal that requires it to give up its weapons.

The United States and other international actors have expressed support for a post-war governance structure in Gaza that includes the Palestinian Authority. However, the PA’s ability to govern effectively remains in question, given its limited authority and lack of popular support.

Abbas’s speech may have been intended to position the PA as a viable alternative to Hamas in Gaza, but it also risks deepening internal Palestinian divisions at a time when unity is seen as essential for any long-term political solution.

References

• Palestinian Authority president calls Hamas ‘sons of dogs,’ demands release of hostages and disarmament
• Abbas calls Hamas 'sons of dogs' and demands release of hostages
• Abbas blasts Hamas: 'Release the hostages, you sons of dogs'
• Palestinian President Abbas urges Hamas to hand over Gaza hostages
• Palestinian Authority president calls Hamas ‘sons of dogs,’ demands release of hostages and disarmament
• Palestinian Authority president calls Hamas ‘sons of dogs,’ demands release of hostages and disarmament